C is a general-purpose, procedural computer programming language supporting structured programming, lexical variable scope, and recursion, while a static type system prevents unintended operations. By design, C provides constructs that map efficiently to typical machine instructions and has found lasting use in applications previously coded in assembly language. Such applications include operating systems and various application software for computers, from supercomputers to embedded systems.

C

The C Programming Language^[1] (often referred to as K&R), the seminal book on C

Paradigm

Imperative (procedural), structured

Designed by

Dennis Ritchie

Developer

Dennis Ritchie & Bell Labs (creators); ANSI X3J11 (ANSI C); ISO/IEC JTC1/SC22/WG14 (ISO C)

First appeared

1972; 47 years ago

Stable release

C18 / June 2018; 1 year ago

Typing discipline

Static, weak, manifest, nominal

OS

Cross-platform

Filename extensions

.c, .h