How do C Programs Run In C Language

C programs run through a series of steps that involve the compiler, linker, and the operating system. Here is an overview of the process:

Writing the code: The first step is to write the source code for the program using a text editor or integrated development environment (IDE). The code is written in the C programming language, using the appropriate syntax and data types.

Compiling the code: The next step is to use a C compiler to convert the source code into machine code. The compiler reads the source code, checks for errors, and generates an object file, which contains the machine code for the program.

Linking the code: The object file generated by the compiler may not contain all the code required to run the program, such as code from libraries. The linker is used to combine the object file with any additional code and libraries required to create a complete executable file.

Loading the program: The final step is to load the program into memory and start its execution. This is done by the operating system, which reads the executable file from disk and loads it into memory. The operating system then begins executing the instructions in the main() function of the program.

Execution: Once the program is loaded, the operating system allocates the required resources such as memory and starts executing the instructions of the main function and any other function that is called from the main.

End of execution: The program terminates when it reaches the end of the main function or when it encounters a return statement. The operating system releases any resources that were allocated for the program and ends its execution.

It's worth noting that the process of compiling, linking, and loading the program can vary depending on the specific implementation of the compiler and operating system, but the general process is similar.