C programming

About the book

K. N. King's C Programming is a teaching text for readers who want a systematic grounding in the language. It covers declarations, expressions, control flow, functions, arrays, pointers, strings, structures, and file input and output. Rules are stated plainly, edge cases are flagged, and the examples are small enough to trace by hand.

The presentation moves from fundamentals toward more demanding material, with pointers and dynamic memory receiving sustained treatment. Terms are defined before they are used, and both correct and incorrect forms appear, which helps readers recognize the mistakes compilers report.

The book also addresses the preprocessor, library facilities, and larger program organization, so it works as a reference for common constructs as well as a course text. Its scope is the language itself. It does not attempt to teach a particular operating system, toolchain, or project workflow in depth.

How to read it

Read with a compiler open. The examples are designed to be typed, compiled, and modified, and the lessons about types, scope, and pointer arithmetic land better when you watch errors appear and fix them. Work the exercises rather than skimming them. Many test whether you can predict what a program does before running it.

The prose is patient but dense in places, especially around pointers, arrays, and memory allocation. Expect to reread those sections and to draw diagrams of memory layout. The book rewards linear reading, though experienced programmers can jump to topics they need and use the index for reference.

Who it suits

This suits readers who want a durable understanding of C: students in a first systems or programming course, programmers coming from higher-level languages who need to understand memory and pointers, and anyone maintaining older C code who wants the rules stated clearly. Readers who prefer project-driven learning may find the pace deliberate, but the groundwork is solid.

Reading considerations

The book teaches C as standardized in the 1990s. Later language revisions added features it does not cover, and some advice reflects the compilers and conventions of its era. Check which edition you have and confirm that its examples match the standard your compiler targets. Readers needing modern C should supplement it with current references.