Identifiers in C

 

Identifiers in C

Identifiers in C are names given to variables, functions, structures, unions, and other entities within a C program. They serve as labels to uniquely identify these elements.

Rules for Identifiers:

1. Case-sensitive: myVariable and myvariable are considered different identifiers.
2. Start with a letter or underscore: Identifiers cannot start with a digit.
3. Contain only letters, digits, and underscores: No other characters are allowed.
4. Cannot be a keyword: Identifiers cannot be the same as reserved keywords in C (e.g., int, if, while).

Examples of Valid Identifiers:

• variable_name
• myFunction
• MyStruct
• _private_variable

Examples of Invalid Identifiers:

• 123variable (starts with a digit)
• my-variable (contains a hyphen)
• int (a reserved keyword)

Best Practices for Naming Identifiers:

• Meaningful names: Choose names that reflect the purpose of the identifier.
• Use underscores or camelCase: Use consistent naming conventions to improve readability.
• Avoid using reserved keywords: To prevent conflicts and improve clarity.
• Be consistent: Use a consistent naming style throughout your code.

Common Naming Conventions:

• CamelCase: myVariableName
• Underscore: my_variable_name