printf scanf in C

The printf() and scanf() functions are used for input and output in C language. Both functions are inbuilt library functions, defined in stdio.h (header file).

printf() function

The printf() function is used for output. It prints the given statement to the console.

The syntax of printf() function is given below:

1. printf("format string",argument_list);  

The format string can be %d (integer), %c (character), %s (string), %f (float) etc.

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scanf() function

The scanf() function is used for input. It reads the input data from the console.

1. scanf("format string",argument_list);  

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Program to print cube of given number

Let's see a simple example of c language that gets input from the user and prints the cube of the given number.

1. #include<stdio.h>  
2. #include<conio.h>  
3. void main(){  
4. int number;  
5. clrscr();  
6.   
7. printf("enter a number:");  
8. scanf("%d",&number);  
9.   
10. printf("cube of number is:%d ",number*number*number);  
11.   
12. getch();  
13. }  

Output

enter a number:5
cube of number is:125

The scanf("%d",&number) statement reads integer number from the console and stores the given value in number variable.

The printf("cube of number is:%d ",number*number*number) statement prints the cube of number on the console.

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Program to print sum of 2 numbers

Let's see a simple example of input and output in C language that prints addition of 2 numbers.

1. #include<stdio.h>  
2. #include<conio.h>  
3. void main(){  
4. int x=0,y=0,result=0;  
5. clrscr();  
6.   
7. printf("enter first number:");  
8. scanf("%d",&x);  
9. printf("enter second number:");  
10. scanf("%d",&y);  
11.   
12. result=x+y;  
13. printf("sum of 2 numbers:%d ",result);  
14.   
15. getch();  
16. }  

Output

enter first number:9
enter second number:9
sum of 2 numbers:18

Variables in C

A variable is a name of memory location. It is used to store data. Its value can be changed and it can be reused many times.

It is a way to represent memory location through symbol so that it can be easily identified.

Let's see the syntax to declare a variable:







type variable_list;  




The example of declaring variable is given below:







int a;  
float b;  
char c;  




Here, a, b, c are variables and int,float,char are data types.

We can also provide values while declaring the variables as given below:







int a=10,b=20;//declaring 2 variable of integer type  
float f=20.8;  
char c='A';  




There are many types of variables in c:

local variable
global variable
static variable
automatic variable
external variable



Local Variable

A variable that is declared inside the function or block is called local variable.

It must be declared at the start of the block.







void function1(){  
int x=10;//local variable  
}  




You must have to initialize the local variable before it is used.


Global Variable

A variable that is declared outside the function or block is called global variable. Any function can change the value of the global variable. It is available to all the functions.

It must be declared at the start of the block.







int value=20;//global variable  
void function1(){  
int x=10;//local variable  
}  





Static Variable

A variable that is declared with static keyword is called static variable.

It retains its value between multiple function calls.







void function1(){  
int x=10;//local variable  
static int y=10;//static variable  
x=x+1;  
y=y+1;  
printf("%d,%d",x,y);  
}  




If you call this function many times, local variable will print the same value for each function call e.g, 11,11,11 and so on. But static variable will print the incremented value in each function call e.g. 11, 12, 13 and so on.


Automatic Variable

All variables in C that is declared inside the block, are automatic variables by default. By we can explicitly declare automatic variable using auto keyword.







void main(){  
int x=10;//local variable (also automatic)  
auto int y=20;//automatic variable  
}  





External Variable

We can share a variable in multiple C source files by using external variable. To declare a external variable, you need to use extern keyword.
myfile.h







extern int x=10;//external variable (also global)  



program1.c







#include "myfile.h"  
#include <stdio.h>  
void printValue(){  
    printf("Global variable: %d", global_variable);  
}