Class notes 25ucs001 A Textbook of Basics of C-Language Programming

A programming language is a formal set of instructions that allows humans to communicate with computers to perform specific tasks. It serves as a bridge between human logic and machine-readable code. Programming languages have specific syntax (rules on how code should be written) and semantics (meaning of the instructions) that dictate how a program is constructed and executed. Some key characteristics of a programming language are: Syntax: The rules that define the structure of valid statements in the language (e.g., how to write a function or a variable). Semantics: The meaning of the syntax or the operations that occur when the code is executed. Data Types: Defines the kinds of data that can be manipulated (such as integers, strings, floats, booleans, etc.). Control Flow: Allows you to control the execution order of instructions, typically through loops, conditionals, and branching (like if, while, for). Functions/Methods: Reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks and can be called as needed. Object-Oriented or Procedural: Depending on the language, programming can be organized around objects (which hold data and methods) or procedures (which are sequences of instructions). Some examples of programming languages include: Python: Known for its simplicity and readability, great for beginners. Java: Popular for enterprise applications, object-oriented.