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EST102 Programming in C

Examples: Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS), Windows 7, Windows XP, Linux, UNIX,
and Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE

The software that a user uses for accomplishing a specific task is the application
software. Application software may be a single program or a set of programs. It runs on the
platform which is provided by system software. High level languages are used to write the
application software. It is a specific purpose software.
Examples
 Word Processing Software: For writing letter, reports, documents etc. (e.g. MS-
WORD).

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 Image Processing Software: For assisting in drawing and manipulating graphics (e.g.
Adobe Photoshop).
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EST102 Programming in C

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The main difference between System Software and Application Software is that
counter (PC) always stores the address of the next instruction to be executed by the without system software, system cannot run on the other hand without application
processor. software, system always runs.
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 The Cache Memory: - It is a small piece of high speed volatile memory located closer
SL. NO SYSTEM SOFTWARE APPLICATION SOFTWARE
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to the processor for fast processing. Cache memory is made of high speed SRAMs. It

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EST102 Programming in C acts as a buffer between the CPU and the RAM. It holds frequently accessed data and System Software maintains the
system resources and give the Application software is built for
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instructions so that they can be easily supplied to the CPU when requested again. Cache 1
It also controls all devices such as memory, input/output devices connected to the CPU. path for application software to specific tasks.
memory is used to reduce the average time to access data from the Main memory.
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 Additionally, CPU also has a set of registers for temporary storage of data, instructions,
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 Primary Memory: - The memory chips that the processor can directly access are Low level languages are used to High level languages are used to
addresses and intermediate results of calculation 2
write the system software. write the application software.
 When the ALU, CU and the registers are all integrated on a single chip, it is called a referred to as primary memory. The three types of primary memory are RAM, ROM and EST102 Programming in C
3 Machine Dependent Machine independent
CMOS. RAM is volatile whereas ROM as CMOS are non-volatile memories. They are
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microprocessor thereby capturing the entire CPU on a single chip

metal oxide semiconductor memory cells built on silicon based ICs.
4 TheItstandard
is a general-purpose software.
library functions are built-inItfunctions
is a specific
in Cpurpose software.
programming. These

Input /Output Unit functions are defined in

Without header files.
system For example, Without application software
software,
 Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is a volatile memory and loses its contents
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The input/output unit consists of devices used to transmit information between the
5  Thesystem can’t
printf() is arun.
standard library functionsystem always
to send runs. output to the
formatted
when the power is turned off. The circuit is so designed that any random location can
System software
output runs
on thewhen
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external world and computer memory. The information fed through the input unit is stored screen (display screen). This function is defined in the stdio.h
be directly accessed without the need to scroll up or down the memory. The program to system is turned on and stop While application software runs as
in computer's memory for processing and the final result stored in memory can be header file.
be executed is loaded into RAM from the non-volatile backup memory. The processor 6 when system is turnedoff. per the user’s request.
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recorded or displayed on the output medium.  The sqrt() function calculates the square root of a number. The function is
reads instructions and data from the RAM, executes them and writes data back to the Compiler, Operating System, Photoshop, Microsoft Office
Examples for input devices: Mouse, Keyboard, Scanner, Joy Stick, Microphone,
defined in the math.h header file.
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7 Interpreter
OCR (Optical Character Reader), MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader) RAM. Hence RAM is also known as the main memory of the computer. Everything from
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 The strlen() function calculates the length of a given string. The function is
Examples for output devices: Printer (Dot Matrix, Ink Jet, Laser, Line), Monitor the RAM is copied to the non-volatile backup memory before the computer is turned IIPE 8
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defined in the string.h header file.

off. The two main types of RAM are Dynamic Ram (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM).
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Memory Unit
USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS
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Each memory cell in a DRAM is made of one transistor and one MOS capacitor, which
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The Memory unit refers to the area where instructions and data are stored in a store one bit of data. However, this cell starts losing its charge and hence data can be Functions that we define ourselves to do certain specific task are referred as user-
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computer. The processor reads instructions and data from the memory, executes them and retained for less than thousandth of a second. So it needs to be refreshed thousand times a defined functions.
writes the result back to it. Different forms of memory are used in a computer system. second, which takes up processor time. However, due to small size of each cell, one DRAM Advantages of user-defined functions
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They vary in their size, speed and location. Anything and everything in a computer is
can have large number of cells. Primary memory of most of the personal computers is
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stored in the form of bits known as binary language or machine language. 8 bits make up a  The program will be easier to understand, maintain and debug.
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made of DRAM.
byte. The total number of bytes that a memory chip can hold at a time is termed as its size  Reusable codes that can be used in other programs
or capacity. Information is stored and processed as a group of bytes, called computer word. Each cell in SRAM is made of several transistors in a cross coupled flip flop
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The word length is specific for each processor. configuration that stores one bit. It retains its bit till the power supply is on and doesn’t  A large program can be divided into smaller modules. Hence, a large project can
be divided among many programmers.
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 The Registers - Since the group of registers is in-built within the processor chip, they https://www.keralanotes.com/
need to be refreshed like DRAM. It also has shorter read-write cycles as compared to
EST102 Programming in C
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are the fastest accessible units of memory by the processor. They are highly expensive DRAM. SRAM is used in specialized applications. Three parts of a user defined functions are:
Read Only Memory (ROM): ROM is a non-volatile memory and hence retains its contents
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and hence are limited in number. Some registers are used to store data while some are IIPE 3 1) Function Declaration or Prototype
reserved to store address. There are some general purpose registers as well. Size of the even when the computer is switched off. It is used for storing software that is rarely
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registers depends on the processor. Accumulator is a registerEST102
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foundProgrammingchanged during the life of the system, sometimes known as firmware. Almost every
on all processors,
EST102 Programming in C
in C 2) Function Definition
which is mainly used to store the operand of an arithmetic operation. Program computer comes with a small amount of ROM containing the boot firmware which is EST102 Programming in C
3) Function Call
counter
counter (PC)
(PC) always
always stores
stores the
the address
address of the next
of the next instruction
instruction to
to be
be executed
executed by
by the
the essential for the boot-up. BIOS is a firmware used to perform hardware initialization
IIPE
processor.
processor.
2
during the booting process and to provide runtime services for operating systems and Function Declaration
int add(int,int,int);
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// function declaration
For More- Study Materials :high
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 The
 The Cache
Cache Memory:
Memory: - It It is
is aa small
small piece
piece of
of high speed volatile
speed volatile memory
memory located
located closer
closer programs. The BIOS firmware comes pre-installed on the ROM and it is the first software A function
void main() prototype is simply the declaration of a function that specifies
to
to the
the processor
processor for
for fast
fast processing.
processing. Cache memory is
Cache memory is made
made ofof high
high speed
speed SRAMs.
SRAMs. ItIt to run when the computer is powered on. ROM memories have gradually evolved from function's name, parameters and return type. It doesn't contain function body. A
{
acts
acts as
as aa buffer
buffer between
between the
the CPU
CPU and
and the RAM. It
the RAM. It holds
holds frequently
frequently accessed
accessed data
data and
and fixed read-only memories to memories that can be programmed and then re-programmed. int x=10,y=20,z=30,res;
function prototype gives information to the compiler that the function may later be
instructions
instructions so
so that
that they
they can
can be
be easily
easily supplied to the
supplied to the CPU
CPU when
when requested
requested again.
again.Cache
Cache res = add(x,y,z); // function call EST102 Programming in C
 ROM (Read Only Memory) used in the program.
printf(“Result=%d”,res);
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memory
memoryis
isused
used to
to reduce
reduce the
the average
average time to access
time to access data
data from
from the
the Main
Main memory.
memory.
}
 PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) return_type function_name( parameter list );
 Primary
 Primary Memory:
Memory: -- The
The memory
memory chips that the
the processor
processor can
can directly
directly access
access are
are
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chips that
Note:
referred
referredto
to as
as primary
primary memory.
memory. The
The three types of
three types of primary
primary memory
memory are RAM,ROM
are RAM, ROMand
and  EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). Syntaxint add(int a, int b, int c) // function definition
CMOS.
CMOS. RAM
RAM is
is volatile
volatile whereas
whereas ROM
ROM as CMOS are
are non-volatile
non-volatile memories.
memories. They
They are
are { If function definition is written after main, then only we write prototype
s.

as CMOS
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 EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) int sum; in global declaration section
declaration
metal
metaloxide
oxidesemiconductor
semiconductor memory
memory cells
cells built on silicon
built on silicon based
based ICs.
ICs. IIPE 2
sum = a+ b + c;
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 If function definition is written above the main function then ,no need to
 Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS): CMOS is a technology used to return sum; //return statement
 Random
 Random Access
Access Memory
Memory (RAM): RAM is a volatile memory
memory and
and loses
loses its
its contents
contents For More Study Materials : www.keralanotes.com
} write prototype declaration
no

produce integrated circuits, but the term is commonly used to refer to the CMOS
s.

when
when the
the power
power is
is turned
turned off.
off. The circuit is so designed
designed that
that any
any random
random location
location can
can
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be
bedirectly
directlyaccessed
accessed without
without the need to scroll up or down
down the
the memory.
memory. The
Theprogram
programto
to memory on the mother board. It is known as non-volatile RAM (NVRAM). It is powered Function Definition
Return Statement
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be
be executed
executed is
is loaded
loaded into
into RAM
RAM from the non-volatile backup
backup memory.
memory. The
The processor
processor by an onboard battery and stores system setting configurations that are required at The return
A function statement
definition terminates theconsists
in C programming execution
of aoffunction
a function and and
header returns a value
a function
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boot time . In case the battery runs out, the CMOS is reset and loses all custom settings to the calling function. The program
of returncontrol is transferred to the calling function after
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reads
reads instructions
instructions and
and data
data from the RAM, executes them
them and
and writes
writes data
data back
back to
to the
the body. Function header consist type,function name,arguments(parameters).
s.

RAM.
RAM.Hence
Hence RAM
RAM is
is also
also known
known as the main memory of the
the computer.
computer. Everything
Everythingfrom
from including the system clock. The information needs to be restored after replacing the the
 return
Returnstatement.
Type: A function may return a value. The return_type is the data type of
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the
the RAM
RAM is
is copied
copied to
to the
the non-volatile
non-volatile backup memory before
before the
the computer
computer is
is turned
turned battery. In value
the above example, the value the sum perform
of functions variable the
is returned to the main
the the function returns. Some desired operations
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off.
off.The
Thetwo
twomain
main types
types of RAM are Dynamic Ram (DRAM)
of RAM (DRAM) and static RAM
and static RAM(SRAM).
(SRAM). function. The res variable in the In
main() function is assigned this value.
keyword void
no

Secondary Memory: - Primary memory has limited storage capacity and is volatile. without returning a value. this case, the return_type is the
Eachmemory
Each memory cell
cell in
in aa DRAM
DRAM is made of one transistor
transistor and
and one
one MOS
MOS capacitor,
capacitor,which
which
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Secondary memory overcomes this limitation by providing permanent storage of data and  Function
Formal Name:
and Actual The actual name of the function. The function name and the
Parameters
store one
store one bit
bit of
of data.
data. However,
However, this cell starts losing its charge
charge and
Downloaded and hence
hence data
data can be
canfrom
be Ktunotes.in
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in bulk quantity. They are the slowest and cheapest form of memory. It cannot be accessed parameter
There are list together
different constitute
ways in whichtheparameters
function signature.
can be passed into and out of
retainedfor
retained for less
less than
than thousandth
thousandth of a second. So it needs to be
be refreshed
refreshed thousand
thousandtimes
timesaa
directly by the CPU. Programs need to be moved to primary memory in order to be  Parameters: A parameter is like a placeholder. When a function is invoked, you