In C, a Keyword is a reserved word that has a special meaning to the compiler. Keywords cannot be used as identifiers, which are names for variables, functions, and other entities.
- There are 32 keywords in C.
- Keywords are case-sensitive, so int is different from INT.
Here are some commonly used keywords in the C programming language:
| Keywords |
| auto |
break |
case |
char |
| const |
continue |
default |
do |
| double |
else |
enum |
extern |
| float |
for |
goto |
if |
| int |
long |
register |
return |
| short |
signed |
sizeof | >
static |
| struct |
switch |
typedef |
union |
| unsigned |
void |
volatile |
while |
- Data Types:
- int: Defines an integer type.
- char: Defines a character type.
- float: Defines a floating-point type.
- double: Defines a double-precision floating-point type.
- void: Represents the absence of type.
- Control Flow:
- if: Used to define conditional statements.
- else: Used in conjunction with "if" to define alternative conditional statements.
- switch: Defines a multi-branching statement based on the value of an expression.
- case: Used within a "switch" statement to define specific cases.
- default: Used within a "switch" statement to define the default case.
- while: Defines a loop that executes while a specified condition is true.
- do: Defines a loop that executes at least once and continues as long as a specified condition is true.
- for: Defines a loop that executes a specified number of times.
- break: Terminates the current loop or switch statement.
- continue: Skips the current iteration of a loop and continues with the next iteration.
- Functions:
- return: Used to exit a function and return a value.
- void: Specifies that a function does not return a value.
- main: The entry point function of a C program.
- Storage Classes:
- auto: Specifies automatic storage duration.
- static: Specifies static storage duration.
- extern: Specifies external linkage.
- Miscellaneous:
- sizeof: Returns the size in bytes of a type or variable.
- const: Specifies that a variable's value cannot be changed.
- typedef: Defines a new type using an existing type.
These are just a few of the keywords in the C programming language. Understanding and utilizing these keywords is essential for writing C programs.