C uses data types to describe various kinds of data such as integers, floating-point numbers, and characters. In C, an object refers to a memory location where its content represents a value. If you assign an object a name, that object becomes a variable. A data type determines the number of bytes allocated to the variable and valid operations can be performed on it.
C provides you with various data types that can be classified into the following groups:
- Basic type includes standard and extended integer types.
- Enumerated types contains real and complex floating-point types
- Derived types include pointer types, array types, structure types, union types and function types.
- Type
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It is important to notice that function type depicts the interface of a function. It specifies types of parameters and returns type of the function.
C data types can be also classified differently into the following groups:
- Arithmetic types include basic types and enumerated types
- Scalar types include arithmetic types and pointer types
- Aggregate types include array types and structure types.
We are going to dissect each C data type in more detail so you know what data type is applicable in a particular programming context and you can use it effectively in your program.