Best C Programming Books for Beginners & Expert

The C Programming language was created in 1969. The creation of the C Programming language is attributed to Dennis Ritchie at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The C Programming language was created for microprocessor programming.

C is a programming language that was designed to be easy to understand, learn, and write. It is often called the “father of all modern programming languages.” C was created by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Laboratories. C has been the language of choice for programs requiring efficiencies, such as system programs and programs that run on a single machine.

The C programming language is one of the most common programming languages today. C was originally designed as a system programming language, meaning it was designed to handle low-level tasks such as memory management and I/O. The language was also designed to be portable, which meant it was written to be interpreted and not compiled. This made C a good language for writing programs that had to be portable across many different operating systems and hardware. C has since evolved into a general-purpose language, meaning it is used for various applications.

What is C Programming Language?

C Programming is a general-purpose programming language that is designed to be portable to different execution platforms and is a general-purpose programming language similar to the BASIC, Java, and C++ languages. It provides a wide variety of features that allow a programmer to create an application that can be executed by the CPU or a program that the operating system kernel can execute.

C is the most widely used programming language today. It is used for many different applications, including operating systems, computer games, operating systems, web browsers, and many different tools. C is also a general-purpose programming language and has a lot of similarities to C++.

C is a general-purpose programming language. C is most widely used for writing the operating systems and various system libraries. It is not a ‘programming language’ used to write a program for your smartphone or PC. It is not an ‘object-oriented’ programming Language.

Best Books For C Programming

1. C Programming Absolute Beginner’s Guide

About the book – A book for absolute beginners who want to learn the C programming language. The book is aimed at people who have never written a line of code in their lives and want to learn C programming. The book starts with the basics of programming, which are taught easily and understandably, and from there, the book goes on to build on that knowledge and introduce new concepts in C programming. Each concept is explained in a step-by-step manner and using code examples to fully understand the concept by looking at the code instead of just reading about it.

Author Name – By Greg Perry and Dean Miller

The book speaks about: C is one of the most fundamental and essential programming languages to learn. Every programmer needs to have a solid understanding of C. This book is an introduction to the language for absolute beginners. It is designed to be easy to read and understand, even if you have never programmed before. As you read this book, you will learn the basics of C programming, which will help you to understand the programs you write and devise your own programs.

The basics you will learn are: How to work with variables, I/O, Operators, Pointers, functions and arrays.

2. The C Programming Language (2^nd Edition)

About the book – The C Programming Language, second edition, is a classic that provides a solid foundation for anyone interested in learning how to write code. The authors, Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie, take you through the C language, explaining the details of its syntax and standard library. You’ll learn how to write programs that are efficient, effective, and easy to maintain. This edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the latest language and standard library features and includes new material on data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming.

Author Name – by Brian Kernighan  and Dennis Ritchie 

What does the book speak about – This book is a classic, and for a very good reason: it’s a great book. It’s one of the best introductions to programming ever written. It covers the fundamentals of programming in C, a language still in widespread use today. This edition has been revised and updated to consider changes in C++ and C#, but it’s still a great introduction to programming.

3. Learn C the Hard Way

About the book – Follow it, and you will learn the many skills early, and junior programmers need to succeed–just like the hundreds of thousands of programmers Zed has taught to date! The book discusses about secure coding, automated testing, debugging, breaking and hacking one’s code, illegal memory access, and many more interesting things along with memory allocation, data structures, queues, stacks, etc.

Author Name – by Zed Shaw

The book speaks about Zed Shaw, a software engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur who has built a learning and teaching technology career. Now he’s sharing his years of experience and knowledge in this book on C. It’s a book on how to learn C the right way. Zed will teach you how to learn C, what to focus on, how to balance your time and energy, and how to avoid common mistakes. This book is primarily for absolute beginner programmers and users who have never used a programming language before.

4. Head First C

About the book – Head First C is a book for absolute beginners in C, whether you’re interested in a career in software development or want to brush up your C skills for a programming assignment. David and Dawn Griffiths are experienced C programmers who want to give you a solid foundation to understand and eventually master the language. The first part of Head First C focuses on the basics of C, including data types, control flow, and programming techniques. The second part delves into the C programming language, with chapters devoted to functions and variables, or structures and arrays.

Author Name – by David Griffiths and Dawn Griffiths

What does the book speak about – Head First C is a programming book for those who already know how to program but want to learn how to write code that’s more efficient and takes less time to write. The book is based on the Head First series of books, which show readers how to learn new things by “seeing” the information differently. Each chapter focuses on a different programming language, starting with the simplest languages like Python and C and more complex languages like C++, Java, and Ruby. The authors, David Griffiths and Dawn Griffiths, use simple analogies to help readers understand how the code works and get them excited about programming.

5. C Programming: A Modern Approach

About the book – C is a programming language widely used in programming today. It is simple to learn and one of the most efficient programming languages. K. N. King, in his book C Programming: A Modern Approach, guides the reader through the basics and the more advanced features of C. This book is a great starting point for those who want to learn C, and it is also a good refresher for those who already know C but want to learn some advanced techniques. K. N. King is a well-known author in the programming world.

Author Name – by K. N. King

The book speaks about: C is one of the most frequently used programming languages. Its versatility and efficiency have made it a must-know for any programmer. This book, C Programming: A Modern Approach, is a comprehensive guide to C programming. It starts with the C language and its syntax and then builds a complete, working C program from the ground up.

6. C: The Complete Reference

About the book – The C programming language is often described as the “go-to” language for system programming. This book aims to provide a deep, comprehensive, and practical introduction to the language. The book’s first half provides an overview of the C language, including history and philosophy, C syntax and semantics, data types and control flow, functions, arrays, strings, and modules. The second half focuses on C libraries and tools, including C runtime library, C Standard Library, C library for mathematical functions, C++ library, and command-line tools.

Author Name – by Kernighan Brian W. and Ritchie Dennis 

The book speaks about Kernighan and Ritchie’s C: The Complete Reference is a comprehensive reference for the C programming language. The authors spend a significant amount of time talking about the history of C, the evolution of the language, and how to program in C. They also spend a considerable amount of time discussing the standard library and the details of how C programs execute. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning C or who wants a deeper understanding of the language. It does a good job of reinforcing what is taught in a typical C programming course, but there are also a lot of details in the book that a student would never learn in a classroom setting.

7. C Programming in easy steps, 5th Edition

About the book – The C programming language is one of the most widely used programming languages globally. It is used in various applications and is an essential skill for any programmer to learn. C Programming in easy steps, 5th Edition is a comprehensive guide to learning C programming, starting from the very basics and progressing to advanced topics. It is suitable for beginners and those with some experience who want to improve their skills.

Author Name – by Mike McGrath

What does the book speak about: C Programming is one of the most fundamental programming languages used in almost all technology today. Unfortunately, C Programming is often considered the most difficult programming language to learn, but the rewards of programming in C are worth the effort. The 5th edition of C Programming in Easy Steps is the only C programming book that has been fully updated for C Programming in the 21st Century. This book has been designed for complete beginners who have never programmed before or for those who have a little bit of programming experience but want to learn C Programming quickly and efficiently.

8. Expert C Programming: Deep Secrets

About the book – Peter Van Der Linden is the author of Expert C Programming: Deep Secrets. This book teaches the C programming language from the perspective of a professional programmer. In this book, Van Der Linden brings his years of programming experience to bear on the C programming language, providing a deep dive into the language’s most advanced topics. The book is divided into two parts: the first part focuses on the C programming language and its ecosystem, while the second part focuses on building robust, maintainable, and high-performance applications.

Author Name – by Peter Van Der Linden

The book speaks about Introduction to C programming is a difficult task, but this book will make it easier. It is written by Peter Van Der Linden, one of the best C programming gurus. It provides a complete introduction to the C programming language, suitable for absolute beginners. The author has used his extensive experience to write this book, which makes it a good choice for those looking to learn C programming.

9. Computer Fundamentals and Programming in C

About the book – Computer Fundamentals and Programming in C is a book on computer fundamentals and programming in C. The book primarily aims to provide readers with the knowledge of how a computer works and how to code in C. It also aims to teach readers the basics of programming in C and how to design programs, programs overview, data types, control structures, functions, input-output, loops, functions, arrays, strings, pointers, data structures, recursion, data structures, and Exception Handling. The book is designed to make it easy for beginners to understand the concepts and code examples provided. It also uses a lot of real-world programming examples to explain complex topics.

Author Name – by Reema Thareja

What does the book speak about: This book, “Computer Fundamentals and Programming in C” by Reema Thareja, is a comprehensive guide to learning C programming basics. It assumes no prior knowledge of programming and is perfect for absolute beginners. The book is divided into 22 chapters, each of which is further divided into several sub-chapters. The book begins with the basics of C programming, including things like data types and control structures.

10. Low-Level Programming: C, Assembly, and Program Execution

About the book – As a programmer, you have probably encountered low-level languages at some point. Perhaps you have used them to learn assembly language or C. If so, you have probably wondered how these languages influence the way you think about programming. In Low-Level Programming, author Igor Zhirkov examines C, assembly, and program execution from this high-level perspective. Zhirkov approaches the book from the perspective of a programmer who has learned low-level languages and wants to learn more about how to think about programming at a higher level.

Author Name – by Igor Zhirkov

What does the book speak about: If you’re interested in becoming a software engineer but don’t know where to start, Low-Level Programming is a great place to begin. Igor Zhirkov wrote Low-Level Programming is a tutorial on low-level programming languages, such as C, assembly, and program execution. Zhirkov defines low-level programming and then dives into each language by providing examples and explanations. He also includes tips and advice for those who want to further their programming skills.

Conclusion

Programming is an exciting field that can help you build the website or app of your dreams. However, it can also be a difficult one, especially if you’re just starting out. One of the best ways to learn programming is through books. Books can be a great way to build a strong foundation in a programming language and give you a deeper understanding of the topics you’re learning.

We all have a teacher who taught us a subject and a moment when we first realized that we wanted to learn more and become experts in this field. For many of us, this moment was when we first learned a programming language, such as C. When you learn a programming language for the first time, it is exciting, but it can also be a little bit overwhelming. There are so many things to learn, and it isn’t easy to know where to start. One of the best ways to learn a programming language is through books.

FAQs

Which author’s book is best for C programming?

Books by Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, and Graham Glass are best for beginners to learn C Programming Language. The language used in these authors’ books is easy and simple to understand.

Is C language good for beginners?

C is a powerful language that’s ideal for beginning programmers. It’s free and open source. C has been used to create some of the most popular software programs and programs on the internet. It’s a great language to get started with if you want to learn how to code.

What are a few free books for C?

1.  A to Z of C by K. Joseph Wesley, R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah
2. Programming in C by Bharat Kinariwala, Tep Dobr
3.  Functional C by Pieter Hartel, Henk Muller

Additional Resources

• C Interview Questions
• Online C Compiler
• Top C IDE
• C Projects
• Features of C Language
• Difference Between C and Python
• Difference Between C and Java
• Difference between C and C++