Tokens in C

In C programming, a token is the smallest individual unit in a program. The compiler breaks the code into these tokens for processing. The major types of tokens in C include:

a. Keywords

These are reserved words with special meanings in C. They cannot be used for naming variables or functions. Examples include int, return, if, else, while, for, break, continue, void, and many more.

b. Identifiers

Identifiers are the names used for variables, functions, arrays, and structures. They must begin with a letter (A–Z or a–z) or an underscore and can be followed by letters, digits, or underscores. They are case-sensitive.

c. Constants

Constants are fixed values that do not change during the execution of a program. They can be:

• Integer constants (e.g., 10, -20)
• Floating-point constants (e.g., 3.14, -0.5)
• Character constants (e.g., 'A', 'z')
• String constants (e.g., "Hello", "C language")

d. Operators

Operators are symbols used to perform operations on variables and values. They include:

• Arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /, %)
• Relational operators (<, >, ==, !=, <=, >=)
• Logical operators (&&, ||, !)
• Assignment operators (=, +=, -=, etc.)
• Bitwise, increment/decrement, and other miscellaneous operators

e. Special Symbols

Special symbols have specific uses in the structure and syntax of C programs. Examples include:

• Braces {} for defining blocks
• Parentheses () for function calls and control statements
• Square brackets [] for arrays
• Semicolon ; to end statements
• Comma , for separating variables or function arguments
• Asterisk * used in pointers or multiplication
• Ampersand & used in referencing memory addresses