C - Statements

Statements in C

A statement is a single instruction for the compiler to execute. Most C statements end with a semicolon (;). A program is a sequence of statements executed in order unless control flow changes it.

Learning Objectives

• Identify common statement forms in C.
• Write simple assignment and expression statements.
• Recognize selection and iteration statements as control flow.

Prerequisites

• C - Hello World
• C - Variables
• C - Datatypes

Example

int number1 = 1;                 // declaration + initialization (assignment)
int number2 = 2;                 // declaration + initialization
int number3 = number1 + number2; // expression statement

Here, three statements execute in order and compute a result.

Types of Statements

• Expression/Assignment: x = y + 1;
• Selection: if/else, switch
• Iteration: for, while, do-while
• Jump: break, continue, return, goto

Common Pitfalls

• Forgetting the semicolon ; at the end of a statement.
• Declaring variables after statements in older C standards; keep declarations at the top of a block if targeting C89.

Checks for Understanding

1. Is printf("hi\n") a statement without a semicolon?
2. What kind of statement is return x;?