What is the basic structure of a C program?
Jun 29, 2025 am 01:22 AMA typical C program structure contains four basic components. 1. The header file contains: using #include to introduce the required library functions. The system header file is wrapped in angle brackets, and the custom header file is wrapped in double quotes. It should only contain the header files that are really needed to improve compilation efficiency and avoid conflicts; 2. Namespace declaration: Usually using namespace std; simplify standard library calls, but in large projects, it is recommended to introduce only the required part or explicitly add namespace prefix to avoid name conflicts; 3. Main function main(): Each C program must have a main function as the program entrance, the return type is int, and usually return 0 means that the program runs successfully, and it can also be used to pass parameters with parameters on the command line; 4. Variable definition and logic processing: Define variables within the main function and write the program core logic. Variables should be defined before use, use meaningful names, and try to avoid global variables. Mastering these structures helps write clearer and maintainable code. Beginners can write according to the template first and gradually expand the functions.
A typical C program structure is not actually complicated, but understanding it clearly helps you write clearer and maintainable code. Let's take a look at the most basic components.

1.Include Headers
At the beginning of the program, you usually see statements like #include <iostream></iostream>
. These are the functions that tell the compiler which libraries we want to use. For example, <iostream></iostream>
provides input and output functions, <vector></vector>
provides support for dynamic arrays.

- Common system header files are wrapped in angle brackets
- Custom header files are usually in double quotes
""
, such as#include "myheader.h"
Some newbies may ignore this or add a bunch of header files at will, which should only include what they really need, which can improve compilation efficiency and avoid potential conflicts.
2. Namespace declaration (Namespace)
Most basic programs use using namespace std;
This sentence means using content in the standard namespace, so that you don't need to write std::cout
or std::endl
every time you call a standard library function or object.

However, in large projects, it is not recommended to use the global namespace directly , because it is easy to cause name conflicts. A safer approach is:
- Only the required parts are introduced:
using std::cout;
- Or add the namespace prefix when using:
std::cout
3. Main function main()
Each C program must have a main()
function, which is the entry point for program execution. The basic form is as follows:
int main() { // The program logic is written here return 0; }
-
int
represents the return type, which is usually used to report to the operating system whether the program runs successfully (0 indicates success) -
return 0;
Don't omit it, although modern compilers will automatically fill it in, it is more standardized to write it explicitly
Some variants will take parameters, such as int main(int argc, char* argv[])
, which is suitable for cases where command line arguments are required.
4. Variable definition and logical processing
Inside the main()
function, you will see the definition of the variable and a series of operation statements. This part is the core logic of the program.
for example:
int age = 25; std::cout << "Your age is " << age << std::endl;
A few points to note:
- Variables are best defined before use, especially in earlier versions of C
- Use meaningful variable names, such as
studentName
instead ofx
- Try to avoid global variables unless there are special needs
Basically that's it. The structure of the C program seems simple, but only after the details are processed can high-quality code be written. When you first learn, you can write according to the template first, and then slowly expand other functions, such as function encapsulation, class design, etc.
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