Define Keywords In C
What is meant by Keywords in C?
- In the C programming language, keywords are reserved words with a defined purpose that are used to carry out particular functions. Variable names function names, and other names that have been given by the user are not permitted to be used as keywords.
- In the C programming language, keywords are a component of the syntax and grammatical structure.
- A word in C is either a keyword or an identifier whenever a developer uses it. A keyword's meaning is predetermined and cannot be altered.
- The lowercase (small case) characters of the alphabet are always used to express keywords in the C programming language, which uses them as fundamental components.
- Every language has words that are only used within that language and cannot be changed by the user.
- The terms "keywords" or "reserved keywords" refer to this. By using these, programmers and compilers can be distinguished from one another.
Need of Using Keywords in C Programming:
- By utilising keywords, the programmer can make their purpose clear to the compiler, who will then be able to read their code more easily.
- The term "int" is used, for instance, to declare an integer variable, whereas the keyword "for" is used to establish a loop.
- The C programming language enables the programmer to express the structure and intent of the code using keywords, making the code easier to understand and maintain.
- Additionally, because keywords have clear definitions in the language, they assist avoid name conflicts and improve the readability of the code.
The full list of C language keywords:
Here is a thorough description of each C keyword's function:
1. auto:
In order to declare a local variable, use the auto keyword. It is optional and serves as the local variables' default storage class.
2. break:
Using the break keyword, you can exit a loop or switch statement. It is employed to stop a loop's or switch's execution before the conditions set forth in the loop or switch statement have been satisfied.
3. case:
Defining a case for the switch expression to be compared against in switch statements is done with the case keyword.
4. char:
A variable of the data type char, which may store one character, is declared with the keyword char.
5. const:
When a constant value that cannot be altered while the programme is running has to be declared, the const keyword is used.
6. continue:
A loop's current iteration can be skipped by using the continue keyword in order to move on to the following one.
7. default:
The default keyword in switch statements designates the case that will be executed automatically if none of the other cases match the switch expression.
8. do:
The do keyword starts a do-while loop, which runs the body of the loop at least once and loops endlessly if the given condition is true.
9. double:
The double keyword is used to declare a variable that is of data type double, which may store double-precision floating-point values.
10. else:
In order to establish an else block that will be run if the condition stated in the if statement is false, the else and if keywords are used together.
11. enum:
It can be utilised to declare an enumerated type, a user-defined data type that is composed of a collection of named values.
12. extern:
It's employed to declare variables or functions that are declared in different files.
13. float:
Declaring a variable of type float, a data type that can contain a single-precision floating-point number, requires the use of the keyword float.
14. for:
Using a for loop, which is a sort of loop that enables you to repeat a series of statements a certain number of times, you can begin a programme.
15. goto:
Control can be moved to a label inside of a function using the goto keyword. It is often advised against using the goto statement because it can make code more difficult to read and comprehend.
16. if:
An if statement is started with the if keyword and is used to conditionally run a block of code depending on the result of a certain condition.
17. int:
To declare a variable of type int, a data type that can hold a whole number, use the int keyword.
18. long:
A variable of the data type long, which can store greater whole numbers than the int data type, is declared using the long keyword.
19. register:
When a variable should be kept in a register as opposed to memory, it is declared using the register keyword. By cutting down on the amount of time needed to retrieve the variable, this can enhance the program's performance.
20. return:
It is employed to return a function's output value to the function that called the function.
21. short:
The short keyword is used to declare a variable that has the data type short, which may hold smaller whole integers than the int data type.
22. signed:
It is employed to declare a signed int variable, a type of data that may hold a whole number with either a positive or negative value.
23. sizeof:
It is used to determine the size in bytes of a variable, data type, or expression.
24. static:
It is utilised to declare static variables, which hold their value in-between calls to functions.
25. struct:
It is employed to declare a structure, a user-defined data type that may include multiple values of various data kinds.
26. switch:
The switch keyword is used to start a switch statement when it is necessary to run a block of code in a specific order depending on the outcome of an expression.
27. typedef:
The typedef keyword is used to give a data type an alias, which makes it simpler to declare variables in the future.
28. union:
A union is a user-defined data type that can hold several values of various types of data, but only one value can be kept in the union at a time. It is declared with the union keyword.
29. unsigned:
A variable of type unsigned int, a data type that may only contain positive whole values, is declared using the unsigned keyword.
30. void:
A function that doesn't return a value or a pointer to an unidentified data type are both declared with the keyword void.
31. volatile:
It is utilised to define variables that may be modified by hardware interrupts or by external processes. In order to avoid the compiler optimising access to the variable since the variable's value might change unexpectedly, this keyword is used.
32. while:
While a certain condition is true, a loop in C that executes a block of code continuously is created using the "while" keyword.