C Operators and Expressions

Operators and expressions are a fundamental part of any programming language, including C programming language. In this article, we will provide an overview of operators and expressions in C programming language with examples.

Get started #

Operators are used to perform arithmetic, logical, and relational operations on variables and values. There are several types of operators in C programming language, including

Arithmetic Operators #

Arithmetic operators are used to perform mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Here is a list of arithmetic operators in C programming language

+ (addition)
- (subtraction)
* (multiplication)
/ (division)
% (modulus)

Here’s an example of how to use arithmetic operators in C programming

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
   int a = 5, b = 2, result;
   
   result = a + b;
   printf("a + b = %d\n", result);
   
   result = a - b;
   printf("a - b = %d\n", result);
   
   result = a * b;
   printf("a * b = %d\n", result);
   
   result = a / b;
   printf("a / b = %d\n", result);
   
   result = a % b;
   printf("a %% b = %d\n", result);
   
   return 0;
}

Logical Operators #

Logical operators are used to perform logical operations such as AND, OR, and NOT.

Here is a list of logical operators in C programming language

&& (AND)
|| (OR)
! (NOT)

In the below example, we have declared three variables a, b, and c, assigned them values, and used logical operators to perform logical operations on them.

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
   int a = 5, b = 2, c = 8;
   int result;
   
   result = (a > b) && (c > b);
   printf("(a > b) && (c > b) = %d\n", result);
   
   result = (a > b) || (c < b);
   printf("(a > b) || (c < b) = %d\n", result);
   
   result = !(a > b);
   printf("!(a > b) = %d\n", result);
   
   return 0;
}

Relational Operators #

Relational operators are used to compare two values and return a true or false value. Here is a list of relational operators in C programming language

== (equal to)
!= (not equal to)
> (greater than)
< (less than)
>= (greater than or equal to)
<= (less than or equal to)

Here’s an example of how to use relational operators in C programming

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
  int a = 5;
  int b = 10;

  if (a == b) {
      printf("a is equal to b.\n");
  } else {
      printf("a is not equal to b.\n");
  }

  if (a != b) {
      printf("a is not equal to b.\n");
  } else {
      printf("a is equal to b.\n");
  }

  if (a > b) {
      printf("a is greater than b.\n");
  } else {
      printf("a is not greater than b.\n");
  }

  return 0;
}

Expressions in C #

Expressions are combinations of variables, constants, and operators that are evaluated to produce a value. Expressions can be simple or complex, depending on the number of variables and operators used. Here are some examples of expressions in C programming language

Simple Expression #

int x = 5;
int y = 10;
int z = x + y;

In this example, we have declared three variables, assigned values to two of them, and used the addition operator to add their values and assign the result to the third variable.

Complex Expression #

int a = 5;
int b = 10;
int c = 15;
int result = ((a + b) * c) / 2;

In this example, we have declared four variables and used several arithmetic operators to perform a complex calculation and assign the result to the fourth variable.

Precedence of Operators #

Operators in C programming language have a specific precedence, which determines the order in which they are evaluated. Here is the precedence of operators in C programming language, from highest to lowest

1. Parentheses
2. Unary operators (+, -, !)
3. Multiplication, division, modulus (*, /, %)
4. Addition, subtraction (+, -)
5. Relational operators (==, !=, >, <, >=, <=)
6. Logical operators (&&, ||)

Conclusion #

In conclusion, operators and expressions are an essential part of C programming language. By using the examples provided in this article, you can start learning how to use operators and expressions in your C programs. It is essential to understand the precedence of operators to avoid unexpected results in your calculations.