C Statements
3 min read ·
Statements in C are instructions that the program executes. Every line of code that performs an action is considered a statement.
Each statement must end with a semicolon, which tells the compiler that the instruction is complete.
Explanation
printf() prints output to the screen
return 0 ends the program
Note
Missing a semicolon at the end of a statement will cause a compilation error.
Types of C Statements
C statements can be broadly divided into four main types
Declaration statements
Assignment statements
Control statements
Function call statements
1. Declaration Statements
These statements are used to declare variables before using them.
Explanation
int a declares an integer variable
float b declares a floating point variable
Pro Tip
Always initialize variables before using them to avoid unexpected behavior.
2. Assignment Statements
Assignment statements are used to assign values to variables.
Explanation
x = 20 assigns value 20 to variable x
Note
You can also assign values during declaration like int x = 20;
3. Control Statements
Control statements are used to control the flow of execution in a program.
if Statement Example
if else Example
loop Example using for
Explanation
if checks a condition
else runs when condition is false
for loop repeats code multiple times
Real World Scenario
Control statements are used in real applications like checking login credentials or repeating tasks such as processing multiple records.
4. Function Call Statements
These statements call functions to perform specific tasks.
Explanation
greet() is a function call
The function executes when it is called
Caution
A function must be declared before it is called, otherwise the compiler will throw an error.
Combining Multiple Statements
Explanation
Multiple statements work together to perform a complete task
This is how real programs are structured
Goal Achieved
You now understand different types of C statements and how they are used in real programs.
Exercise
Write a C program that takes a number as input and checks whether it is even or odd using an if else statement.