C, the oldest of the programming languages still in use today, is also one of the most powerful. C was originally designed as a system implementation language within Bell Labs and has since become one of the most popular programming languages in existence. It's been used for developing operating systems, compilers, debuggers, and many other applications that involve low-level computer hardware interaction.
Here are 10 advantages to using C as your primary programming language,
Powerful and efficient language
C has been called a "portable assembler" and is used for low-level programming that can be compiled with different compilers. C's efficiency makes it easy to write efficient code, which in turn improves runtime performance. Its versatility enables programmers to take advantage of many libraries like OpenCV (computer vision), SQLite (database management system), and GTK+ (windowing toolkit).
The fact that the language originated as an implementation language also gives these advantages: it was designed by experts who had experience writing programs on their own machines; because there are no pointers or other abstract concepts involved, you don't have to worry about ever getting memory allocation wrong; and lastly, its simplicity leaves room for optimization opportunities.
Portable language
C is a portable language. It was designed to be compiled with different compilers and can run on most hardware platforms, which means you don't have to know everything about the memory layout of your machine in order to write programs for it.
The C programming language also enables programmers to recompile their code without having any knowledge of assembly.
Built-in functions
C has many built-in functions that make it easier for programmers to write programs. Functions like scanf() and printf() can be called without declaring them first because they are automatically linked in by the compiler. A variety of libraries exist which provide an even greater selection of these types of function calls, enabling you to focus on your own.
Quality to extend itself
C is eminently extensible. The language has been extended by several different languages, including Java and Objective-C. It's also possible to extend C in the same way with preprocessors like GCC or Clang which can generate code from a file that will take care of things for you automatically.
Open-source
The C programming language is open-source, which means that the code is publicly available and each programmer can modify it to suit their needs. This also enables programmers to create libraries for public use based on particular preferences or problems they want to be solved.
C's simple design leaves room for optimization opportunities: every detail of structured programming language.
Structured programming language
C is a structured programming language, which means that it has an opening and closing brace for every block of code. The programmer can use the extra space provided by these braces to indent their code within each function, making everything easier to read.
Middle-level language
C is a middle-level programming language, which means it can be used for low- or high-level programming. It's an excellent choice because of its efficiency and portability.
Implementation of algorithms and data structures
C is an excellent choice for implementing algorithms and data structures. Though it may seem like a low-level language, C has been used to create some of the most widely-used software in existence: operating systems, compilers, debuggers, etc.
Procedural programming language
C is a procedural programming language, which means that it provides instructions to the computer in order. It's called "procedural" because of its use of procedures and functions for tasks like input/output. C also supports object-oriented programming through inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation; this enables programmers to create reusable code.
Dynamic memory allocation
C supports dynamic memory allocation, which means that a programmer can create and destroy sections of memory as needed. This is an essential aspect of modern programming languages because it's impossible to know in advance how much space one will need.
Conclusion
The C programming language is a great option for anyone wanting to write their own programs. It's not limited by the hardware or operating system it runs on, and the simplicity of its features leaves room for optimization opportunities and extensions.