The C programming language is one of the most widely used programming languages in embedded systems for programming microcontrollers. It has influenced many other programming languages, including PHP, C#, Javascript, C++, and Java.
Although C is a popular language, is C worth learning in 2022? This article will provide you with all you need to know about the C programming language, explain if learning C is worth it, and how to learn C for free.
What Is C?
C is a general-purpose programming language that is organized and imperative. It is a hardware-independent language created for system programming on the UNIX operating system. It is a procedural language, which means that programmers can write programs as a series of step-by-step instructions.
Dennis Ritchie created this powerful general-purpose programming language at Bell Labs in the 1970s to encourage cross-platform programming and replace assembly language in operating systems. C is widely used to create various apps, operating systems such as Windows, and other complicated programs such as the Oracle database, Git, Python interpreter, and others.
Is C Worth Learning in 2022?
C is worth learning in 2022 because it is easy to grasp. It gives you basic knowledge about the inner workings of computer systems and the core concepts that drive programming. C bridges the gap between low-level and high-level programming languages and allows you to develop more complex and comprehensive programs for operating systems and software applications in 2022.
5 Reasons C Is Worth Learning
Learning C programming is worth it and knowing this programming language will assist you in learning any modern programming language. Below are several other reasons why learning C is beneficial.
Understanding Other Languages
C is the foundation of many popular programming languages. As a result, if you know the fundamentals of C and C++, switching to another language will be simple. Almost all high-level programming languages, such as Java, Python, and Javascript, can communicate with C.
Open Source Projects
If you know C, you can contribute to open source projects that affect hundreds of millions of people. Linux, Kernel, Interpreter, Python, and SQLite Database are large, open source projects that require C programming.
Fast
C programs are generally faster to write and compile than programs written in any programming language. The C programming language is fast to execute because it has no additional processing overheads such as garbage collection or memory leak prevention.
Embedded Systems
C is a commonly used programming language for controlling microcontrollers. Microcontroller programming is another name for embedded programming. Microcontrollers and embedded programming are used in automobiles, computers, robotics, hardware, and other applications.
C Language Is Adaptable
The C language is very adaptable because it is a middle-level language. C combines features of high-level and low-level languages. The C programming language is used in both low-level programming, such as driver and kernel scripting; and high-level languages, such as software application scripting.
How to Learn C for Free
If C is your preferred choice of programming language, you can learn its key programming concepts using free C programming courses, massive open online courses (MOOCs), online tutorials, and coding bootcamps. Explore the free resources listed below to learn C.
| Resource | Provider | Type of Resource | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Interactive C Tutorial | Learn C | Online tutorial | Self-paced |
| Learn C Programming | Programiz | Online tutorial | Self-paced |
| Learn Fundamentals Of Computer Programming With C Language | Coursera | MOOC | Self-paced |
| Free MOOC | Udemy | MOOC | Self-paced |
| C Programming Tutorial for Beginners | freeCodeCamp | Online tutorial | Self-paced |
Is Learning C Worth It?
Learning C is worth it. It is hard to avoid C because it is used to write OS kernels, databases, compilers, and many other applications. Knowledge of C will be required to debug or improve them. During career conversations, you will discover that learning this portable language will provide job opportunities in a wide range of development companies.
FAQ: Is C Worth Learning?
When it comes to C vs Java, Java is easier to learn and use because it is a high-level language, but C can accomplish more and perform faster because it is closer to machine code. C is a compiled, procedural, and low-level language. On the other hand, Java is a high-level, interpreted, and object-oriented programming language.
C is best used for scripting system applications and can efficiently work on enterprise applications, games, graphics, and applications requiring calculations.
C is one of the earliest and most widely used programming languages. C is the fourth most popular programming language in the world as of January 2022. Modern languages such as Go, Swift, Scala, and Python are not as popular as C.
C is the language of choice used by major companies to develop operating systems such as Apple’s OS X, Microsoft’s Windows, and Symbian. They use C to create operating systems for desktop computers and mobile phones and enhance compiler designing, computer architecture, and general production.
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