# Compilation Steps 1. Preprocessing: The preprocessor obeys commands that begin with #, also known as directives Commands for the preprocessor are called directives. Directives begin with a pound sign, and they do not end with a semicolon. Example: ```c #include ``` 2. Compiling. A compiler translates then translates the program into machine instructions. 3. Linking: The generated objects are combined to create a complete executable. The preprocessor is typically integrated with the compiler. # Types ## Strings A string literal is characters enclosed in double quotation marks. A newline can be inserted using `\n`. ## Integers An integer is a way to store a whole number. In C, integers are signed by default. ## Floats A float is a decimal value. Slower arithmetic and inexact values are both drawbacks of using floats. ## Variables A variable must be declared before it is assigned. # Formatting specifiers # Standard library ## Formatting specifiers | Specifier | Function | | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `%d` | Decimal representation: Display a value as a base 10 (hence the decimal) integer. | | `%f` | Fixed point decimal representation. Specify the number of places to round to by adding a decimal and a number, eg `%.2f` would round to two decimal places. | | `%e` | | For number formatting specifiers, the convention is as follows: `%-a.bX` `%`: Start of the formatting specifier `-`: (optional) If included, justify value left in space. Otherwise, justify right in space `a`: (optional) If included, the size of the field in characters. `.`: Separator between `a` and `b`. Optional if `b` is not specified `b`: The number of decimal places to round to `X`: The type of format to use, and the end of the specifier. Use `d` for integer base 10 (decimal) representation, `f` for fixed point decimal, and `e` for exponential notation, and `g` to select between fixed point and exponential, whichever is shorter. ## `printf` Write a string to standard output. `f` indicates that it's a formatting string. The string will not include move the cursor to a newline, append `\n` to the end of the string to do so.