Mastering Datatypes in C Programming: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners in 2023

Article by: Manish Methani

Last Updated: November 8, 2021 at 2:04pm IST
5 min 42 sec read

Data types in C programming are used to specify the type of data that a variable can hold. Each data type has a different size, range, and usage, and it is essential to understand them to write efficient and error-free code. Here's a tutorial to help you understand data types in C programming:

Step 1: Understanding Basic Datatypes

C programming has four basic datatypes: int, float, double, and char.

• Int: Used for storing integer values.
• Float: Used for storing floating-point values with single precision.
• Double: Used for storing floating-point values with double precision.
• Char: Used for storing a single character.

Here's an example of using basic datatypes in C programming:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
   int age = 30;
   float temperature = 36.5;
   double salary = 2000.50;
   char grade = 'A';

   printf("Age is %d", age);
   printf("Temperature is %.1f", temperature);
   printf("Salary is %.2lf", salary);
   printf("Grade is %c", grade);

   return 0;
}

Step 2: Understanding Derived Datatypes

Derived datatypes in C programming are created by combining basic datatypes or other derived datatypes.

• Arrays: Used for storing a collection of values of the same type.
• Pointers: Used for storing the memory address of a variable.
• Structures: Used for storing a collection of variables of different types.

Here's an example of using derived datatypes in C programming:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
   int numbers[5] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
   int *p;
   struct student {
      char name[50];
      int age;
      float gpa;
   };
   struct student s1 = {"John Doe", 20, 3.5};

   p = &numbers[0];

   printf("First element of the array: %d", *p);
   printf("Student name: %s", s1.name);
   printf("Student age: %d", s1.age);
   printf("Student GPA: %.1f", s1.gpa);

   return 0;
}

Output:

First element of the array: 10
Student name: John Doe
Student age: 20
Student GPA: 3.5

Step 3: Understanding Enumerated Datatypes

Enumerated data types in C programming are used to define a set of named constants.

Here's an example of using enumerated datatypes in C programming:

 #include <stdio.h>

enum week { Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday };

int main() {
   enum week today = Monday;

   printf("Today is %d", today);

   return 0;
}

Output:

Today is 0

In conclusion, datatypes are an essential concept in C programming. By following this tutorial, you have learned about basic, derived, and enumerated datatypes in C programming and how to use them effectively with code examples.