9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
Tutorials References Exercises Menu Log in
Pro Get Certified Free Website
C Variables
❮ Previous Next ❯
Variables are containers for storing data values.
In C, there are different types of variables (defined with different keywords), for example:
int - stores integers (whole numbers), without decimals, such as 123 or -123
float - stores floating point numbers, with decimals, such as 19.99 or -19.99
char - stores single characters, such as 'a' or 'B'. Char values are surrounded by single quotes
Declaring (Creating) Variables
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 1/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
To create a variable, specify the type and assign it a value:
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
Syntax
type variableName = value;
Where type is one of C types (such as int ), and variableName is the name of the variable (such as x or myName). The equal
sign is used to assign a value to the variable.
So, to create a variable that should store a number, look at the following example:
Example
Create a variable called myNum of type int and assign the value 15 to it:
int myNum = 15;
You can also declare a variable without assigning the value, and assign the value later:
Example
int myNum;
myNum = 15;
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 2/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Note: If you assign a new value to an existing variable, it will overwrite the previous value:
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
Example
int myNum = 15; // myNum is 15
myNum = 10; // Now myNum is 10
Output Variables
You learned from the output chapter that you can output values/print text with the printf() function:
Example
printf("Hello World!");
Try it Yourself »
In many other programming languages (like Python, Java, and C++), you would normally use a print function to display the
value of a variable. However, this is not possible in C:
Example
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 3/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
intmyNumHTML
= 15; CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
printf(myNum); // Nothing happens
Try it Yourself »
To output variables in C, you must get familiar with something called "format specifiers".
Format Specifiers
Format specifiers are used together with the printf() function to tell the compiler what type of data the variable is storing. It is
basically a placeholder for the variable value.
A format specifier starts with a percentage sign % , followed by a character.
For example, to output the value of an int variable, you must use the format specifier %d or %i surrounded by double quotes,
inside the printf() function:
Example
int myNum = 15;
printf("%d", myNum); // Outputs 15
Try it Yourself »
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 4/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
To print other types, use %c for char and %f for float :
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
Example
// Create variables
int myNum = 5; // Integer (whole number)
float myFloatNum = 5.99; // Floating point number
char myLetter = 'D'; // Character
// Print variables
printf("%d\n", myNum);
printf("%f\n", myFloatNum);
printf("%c\n", myLetter);
Try it Yourself »
To combine both text and a variable, separate them with a comma inside the printf() function:
Example
int myNum = 5;
printf("My favorite number is: %d", myNum);
Try it Yourself »
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 5/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
To print different types in a single printf() function, you can use the following:
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
Example
int myNum = 5;
char myLetter = 'D';
printf("My number is %d and my letter is %c", myNum, myLetter);
Try it Yourself »
You will learn more about Data Types in the next chapter.
Add Variables Together
To add a variable to another variable, you can use the + operator:
Example
int x = 5;
int y = 6;
int sum = x + y;
printf("%d", sum);
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 6/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
Try it Yourself »
Declare Multiple Variables
To declare more than one variable of the same type, use a comma-separated list:
Example
int x = 5, y = 6, z = 50;
printf("%d", x + y + z);
Try it Yourself »
You can also assign the same value to multiple variables of the same type:
Example
int x, y, z;
x = y = z = 50;
printf("%d", x + y + z);
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 7/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
Try
it Yourself
HTML » CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
C Variable Names
All C variables must be identified with unique names.
These unique names are called identifiers.
Identifiers can be short names (like x and y) or more descriptive names (age, sum, totalVolume).
Note: It is recommended to use descriptive names in order to create understandable and maintainable code:
Example
// Good
int minutesPerHour = 60;
// OK, but not so easy to understand what m actually is
int m = 60;
The general rules for naming variables are:
Names can contain letters, digits and underscores
Names must begin with a letter or an underscore (_)
Names are case sensitive ( myVar and myvar are different variables)
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 8/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Names cannot contain whitespaces or special characters like !, #, %, etc.
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
Reserved words (such as int ) cannot be used as names
C Exercises
Test Yourself With Exercises
Exercise:
Create a variable named myNum and assign the value 50 to it.
= ;
Submit Answer »
Start the Exercise
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 9/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
❮ Previous Next ❯
ADVERTISEMENT
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 10/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
NEW
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 11/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
We just launched Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
W3Schools videos
Explore now
COLOR PICKER
Get certified
by completing
a course today!
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 12/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
w3
school
s
2
CE
02
TI 2
R
FI .
ED
Get started
CODE GAME
Play Game
ADVERTISEMENT
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 13/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
ADVERTISEMENT Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 14/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL PYTHON
ADVERTISEMENT
Report Error Spaces Pro Buy Certificate
Top Tutorials Top References Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 15/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
HTML Tutorial HTML Reference Dark code
HTML CSS CSSJAVASCRIPT
Tutorial SQL PYTHON CSS Reference
JavaScript Tutorial JavaScript Reference
How To Tutorial SQL Reference
SQL Tutorial Python Reference
Python Tutorial W3.CSS Reference
W3.CSS Tutorial Bootstrap Reference
Bootstrap Tutorial PHP Reference
PHP Tutorial HTML Colors
Java Tutorial Java Reference
C++ Tutorial Angular Reference
jQuery Tutorial jQuery Reference
Top Examples Get Certified
HTML Examples HTML Certificate
CSS Examples CSS Certificate
JavaScript Examples JavaScript Certificate
How To Examples Front End Certificate
SQL Examples SQL Certificate
Python Examples Python Certificate
W3.CSS Examples PHP Certificate
Bootstrap Examples jQuery Certificate
PHP Examples Java Certificate
Java Examples C++ Certificate
XML Examples C# Certificate
jQuery Examples XML Certificate
FORUM | ABOUT
W3Schools is optimized for learning and training. Examples might be simplified to improve reading and learning. Tutorials, references, and examples are
constantly reviewed to avoid errors, but we cannot warrant full correctness of all content. While using W3Schools, you agree to have read and accepted our
terms of use, cookie and privacy policy.
Copyright 1999-2022 by Refsnes Data. All Rights Reserved.
W3Schools is Powered by W3.CSS.
Dark mode
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php
D k d 16/17
9/28/22, 8:37 PM C Variables
Dark code
HTML CSS JAVASCRIPT SQL
PYTHON
https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_variables.php 17/17
