Structure And Union In C Language Part 1

Prajwal Jadhav December 03, 2022

Mastering Structures in C: A Comprehensive Guide to Efficient Data Organization



Introduction:

In C programming, a structure is a powerful tool that allows you to group related variables under a single name. These variables can be of different types, and each is identified by a name within the structure. Think of a structure as a way to conveniently organize various pieces of information.

Defining a Structure:

To create a structure, you define a new named type. This not only organizes your variables but also extends the range of variable types. A structure can include other structures, arrays, or pointers as its members.
  struct ComplexNumbers {
        double real;
        double imag;
    } complex;
Here, we've created a structure ComplexNumbers to represent complex numbers, which consist of real and imaginary parts.

Practical Uses of Structures:

Structures are not just about grouping data; they are also excellent for representing specific types of information. For instance, in mathematics, complex numbers inhabit a two-dimensional plane. This spatial relationship can be easily represented using a structure.
  struct Point {
        double x;
        double y;
    } point;
Here, we've defined a structure Point to hold the coordinates of a point in a two-dimensional space.
Syntax:
  struct structure_name {
        // Data member list
    };
Example 1: Storing Employee Information
  struct Employee {
        int id_number;
        int age;
        float salary;
    };

    int main() {
        struct Employee employee;
        employee.age = 22;
        employee.id_number = 1;
        employee.salary = 12000.12;
    }
In this example, we've created a structure Employee to store information about an employee, making it easier to manage related data.
Example 2: Defining the Simplest Structure

    #include <stdio.h>

    int main() {
        struct {
            int a;
            int b;
        } x, y;

        x.a = 10;
        y = x; // Assigning one structure to another
        printf("%d", y.a);
        return 0;
    }
Here, we've defined an anonymous structure x with two integers and demonstrated how to assign one structure to another.
Example 3: Working with Struct

    #include <stdio.h>

    struct Student {
        char *name;
        float number;
    } student1, student2;

    int main() {
        struct Student student3;
        char s1[30];
        float f;

        scanf("%s", s1);
        scanf("%f", &f);

        student1.name = s1;
        student2.number = f;

        printf("Name: %s\n", student1.name);
        printf("Number: %f\n", student2.number);

        return 0;
    }
In this example, we've created a structure Student to represent student information, showcasing the practical usage of structures.
Example 4: Define and Use a Struct

    #include <stdio.h>

    struct Person {
        int id;
        char *name;
    };

    int main() {
        struct Person people[2];
        people[0].id = 1;
        people[0].name = "Person 1";
        people[1].id = 2;
        people[1].name = "Person 2";

        printf("ID: %d, Name: %s\n", people[0].id, people[0].name);
        printf("ID: %d, Name: %s\n", people[1].id, people[1].name);

        return 0;
    }
Here, we've used an array of structures to store information about people, showcasing how structures can efficiently manage data in a collection.

Conclusion:

Incorporating structures in C empowers programmers with a robust mechanism for organizing and managing diverse data types. From simple examples to practical applications, understanding structures elevates code clarity and efficiency, making it an indispensable skill in the C programmer's toolkit.

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