C Programming MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

Here are 1000 MCQs on C Programming (Chapterwise).

1. Who is the father of C language?
a) Steve Jobs
b) James Gosling
c) Dennis Ritchie
d) Rasmus Lerdorf
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Dennis Ritchie is the father of C Programming Language. C programming language was developed in 1972 at American Telephone & Telegraph Bell Laboratories of USA.

2. Which of the following is not a valid C variable name?
a) int number;
b) float rate;
c) int variable_count;
d) int $main;
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Since only underscore and no other special character is allowed in a variable name, it results in an error.

3. All keywords in C are in ____________
a) LowerCase letters
b) UpperCase letters
c) CamelCase letters
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: None.

4. Which of the following is true for variable names in C?
a) They can contain alphanumeric characters as well as special characters
b) It is not an error to declare a variable to be one of the keywords(like goto, static)
c) Variable names cannot start with a digit
d) Variable can be of any length
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: According to the syntax for C variable name, it cannot start with a digit.

5. Which is valid C expression?
a) int my_num = 100,000;
b) int my_num = 100000;
c) int my num = 1000;
d) int $my_num = 10000;
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Space, comma and $ cannot be used in a variable name.

6. Which of the following cannot be a variable name in C?
a) volatile
b) true
c) friend
d) export
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: volatile is C keyword.
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7. What is short int in C programming?
a) The basic data type of C
b) Qualifier
c) Short is the qualifier and int is the basic data type
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

8. Which of the following declaration is not supported by C language?
a) String str;
b) char *str;
c) float str = 3e2;
d) Both “String str;” and “float str = 3e2;”
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: It is legal in Java, but not in C language.

9. Which keyword is used to prevent any changes in the variable within a C program?
a) immutable
b) mutable
c) const
d) volatile
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: const is a keyword constant in C program.

10. What is the result of logical or relational expression in C?
a) True or False
b) 0 or 1
c) 0 if an expression is false and any positive number if an expression is true
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.

11. Which of the following typecasting is accepted by C language?
a) Widening conversions
b) Narrowing conversions
c) Widening & Narrowing conversions
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

12. Where in C the order of precedence of operators do not exist?
a) Within conditional statements, if, else
b) Within while, do-while
c) Within a macro definition
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

13. Which of the following is NOT possible with any 2 operators in C?
a) Different precedence, same associativity
b) Different precedence, different associativity
c) Same precedence, different associativity
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

14. What is an example of iteration in C?
a) for
b) while
c) do-while
d) all of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.
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15. Functions can return enumeration constants in C?
a) true
b) false
c) depends on the compiler
d) depends on the standard
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: None.

16. Functions in C Language are always _________
a) Internal
b) External
c) Both Internal and External
d) External and Internal are not valid terms for functions
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.

17. Which of following is not accepted in C?
a) static a = 10; //static as
b) static int func (int); //parameter as static
c) static static int a; //a static variable prefixed with static
d) all of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

18. Property which allows to produce different executable for different platforms in C is called?
a) File inclusion
b) Selective inclusion
c) Conditional compilation
d) Recursive macros
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Conditional compilation is the preprocessor facility to produce a different executable.

19. What is #include <stdio.h>?
a) Preprocessor directive
b) Inclusion directive
c) File inclusion directive
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: None.
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20. C preprocessors can have compiler specific features.
a) True
b) False
c) Depends on the standard
d) Depends on the platform
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: #pragma is compiler specific feature.

21. Which of the following are C preprocessors?
a) #ifdef
b) #define
c) #endif
d) all of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

22. The C-preprocessors are specified with _________ symbol.
a) #
b) $
c) ” ”
d) &
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The C-preprocessors are specified with # symbol.

23. How is search done in #include and #include “somelibrary.h” according to C standard?
a) When former is used, current directory is searched and when latter is used, standard directory is searched
b) When former is used, standard directory is searched and when latter is used, current directory is searched
c) When former is used, search is done in implementation defined manner and when latter is used, current directory is searched
d) For both, search for ‘somelibrary’ is done in implementation-defined places
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.

24. How many number of pointer (*) does C have against a pointer variable declaration?
a) 7
b) 127
c) 255
d) No limits
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

25. Which of the following is not possible statically in C language?
a) Jagged Array
b) Rectangular Array
c) Cuboidal Array
d) Multidimensional Array
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: None.

26. Which of the following return-type cannot be used for a function in C?
a) char *
b) struct
c) void
d) none of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

27. The standard header _______ is used for variable list arguments (…) in C.
a) <stdio.h >
b) <stdlib.h>
c) <math.h>
d) <stdarg.h>
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

28. When a C program is started, O.S environment is responsible for opening file and providing pointer for that file?
a) Standard input
b) Standard output
c) Standard error
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

29. In C language, FILE is of which data type?
a) int
b) char *
c) struct
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

30. What is the sizeof(char) in a 32-bit C compiler?
a) 1 bit
b) 2 bits
c) 1 Byte
d) 2 Bytes
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

31. Which of the following is not an operator in C?
a) ,
b) sizeof()
c) ~
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

32. scanf() is a predefined function in______header file.
a) stdlib. h
b) ctype. h
c) stdio. h
d) stdarg. h
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: scanf() is a predefined function in "stdio.h" header file.printf and scanf() carry out input and output functions in C. These functions statements are present in the header file stdio.h.

33. What is meant by ‘a’ in the following C operation?

fp = fopen("Random.txt", "a");

a) Attach
b) Append
c) Apprehend
d) Add
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.

34. What will be the output of the following C code?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         int y = 10000;
  5.         int y = 34;
  6.         printf("Hello World! %d\n", y);
  7.         return 0;
  8.     }

a) Compile time error
b) Hello World! 34
c) Hello World! 1000
d) Hello World! followed by a junk value
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Since y is already defined, redefining it results in an error.
Output:
$ cc pgm2.c
pgm2.c: In function ‘main’:
pgm2.c:5: error: redefinition of ‘y’
pgm2.c:4: note: previous definition of ‘y’ was here

35. What will happen if the following C code is executed?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         int main = 3;
  5.         printf("%d", main);
  6.         return 0;
  7.     }

a) It will cause a compile-time error
b) It will cause a run-time error
c) It will run without any error and prints 3
d) It will experience infinite looping
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: A C program can have same function name and same variable name.
$ cc pgm3.c
$ a.out
3

36. What will be the output of the following C code?

  1.     #include  <stdio.h>
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.        signed char chr;
  5.        chr = 128;
  6.        printf("%d\n", chr);
  7.        return 0;
  8.     }

a) 128
b) -128
c) Depends on the compiler
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The range of signed character is from -128 to +127. Since we are assigning a value of 128 to the variable ‘chr’, the result will be negative. 128 in binary is represented as “1000 0000” for character datatype. As you can see that the sign bit is set to 1, followed by 7 zeros (0), its final decimal value will be -128 (negative 128).
Output:
$ cc pgm2.c
$ a.out
-128

37. What will be the output of the following C code on a 64 bit machine?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     union Sti
  3.     {
  4.         int nu;
  5.         char m;
  6.     };
  7.     int main()
  8.     {
  9.         union Sti s;
  10.         printf("%d", sizeof(s));
  11.         return 0;
  12.     }

a) 8
b) 5
c) 9
d) 4
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Since the size of a union is the size of its maximum data type, here int is the largest data type. Hence the size of the union is 4.
Output:
$ cc pgm7.c
$ a.out
4

38. What will be the output of the following C function?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     enum birds {SPARROW, PEACOCK, PARROT};
  3.     enum animals {TIGER = 8, LION, RABBIT, ZEBRA};
  4.     int main()
  5.     {
  6.         enum birds m = TIGER;
  7.         int k;
  8.         k = m;
  9.         printf("%d\n", k);
  10.         return 0;
  11.     }

a) 0
b) Compile time error
c) 1
d) 8
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: m is an integer constant, hence it is compatible.
Output:
$ cc pgm5.c
$ a.out
8

39. What will be the output of the following C code?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int const print()
  3.     {
  4.         printf("Sanfoundry.com");
  5.         return 0;
  6.     }
  7.     void main()
  8.     {
  9.         print();
  10.     }

a) Error because function name cannot be preceded by const
b) Sanfoundry.com
c) Sanfoundry.com is printed infinite times
d) Blank screen, no output
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.
Output:
$ cc pgm13.c
$ a.out
Sanfoundry.com

40. Will the following C code compile without any error?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         for (int k = 0; k < 10; k++);
  5.             return 0;
  6.     }

a) Yes
b) No
c) Depends on the C standard implemented by compilers
d) Error
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Compilers implementing C90 do not allow this, but compilers implementing C99 allow it.
Output:
$ cc pgm4.c
pgm4.c: In function ‘main’:
pgm4.c:4: error: ‘for’ loop initial declarations are only allowed in C99 mode
pgm4.c:4: note: use option -std=c99 or -std=gnu99 to compile your code

41. What will be the final value of x in the following C code?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     void main()
  3.     {
  4.         int x = 5 * 9 / 3 + 9;
  5.     }

a) 3.75
b) Depends on compiler
c) 24
d) 3
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

42. What will be the output of the following C code? (Initial values: x= 7, y = 8)

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     void main()
  3.     {
  4.         float x;
  5.         int y;
  6.         printf("enter two numbers \n");
  7.         scanf("%f %f", &x, &y);
  8.         printf("%f, %d", x, y);
  9.     }

a) 7.000000, 7
b) Run time error
c) 7.000000, junk
d) Varies
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

43. What will be the output of the following C code considering the size of a short int is 2, char is 1 and int is 4 bytes?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         short int i = 20;
  5.         char c = 97;
  6.         printf("%d, %d, %d\n", sizeof(i), sizeof(c), sizeof(c + i));
  7.         return 0;
  8.     }

a) 2, 1, 2
b) 2, 1, 1
c) 2, 1, 4
d) 2, 2, 8
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

44. What is the difference between the following 2 C codes?

  1.     #include <stdio.h> //Program 1
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         int d, a = 1, b = 2;
  5.         d =  a++ + ++b;
  6.         printf("%d %d %d", d, a, b);
  7.     }
  1.     #include <stdio.h> //Program 2
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         int d, a = 1, b = 2;
  5.         d =  a++ +++b;
  6.         printf("%d %d %d", d, a, b);
  7.     }

a) No difference as space doesn’t make any difference, values of a, b, d are same in both the case
b) Space does make a difference, values of a, b, d are different
c) Program 1 has syntax error, program 2 is not
d) Program 2 has syntax error, program 1 is not
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

45. What will be the output of the following C code snippet?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     void main()
  3.     {
  4.         1 < 2 ? return 1: return 2;
  5.     }

a) returns 1
b) returns 2
c) Varies
d) Compile time error
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

46. What will be the value of the following assignment expression?

 (x = foo())!= 1 considering foo() returns 2

a) 2
b) True
c) 1
d) 0
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: None.

47. What will be the output of the following C function?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     void reverse(int i);
  3.     int main()
  4.     {
  5.         reverse(1);
  6.     }
  7.     void reverse(int i)
  8.     {
  9.         if (i > 5)
  10.             return ;
  11.         printf("%d ", i);
  12.         return reverse((i++, i));
  13.     }

a) 1 2 3 4 5
b) Segmentation fault
c) Compilation error
d) Undefined behaviour
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: None.

48. What will be the final values of i and j in the following C code?

  1. #include <stdio.h>
  2. int x = 0;
  3. int f()
  4. {
  5.     if (x == 0)
  6.         return x + 1;
  7.     else
  8.         return x - 1;
  9. }
  10. int g()
  11. {
  12.     return x++;
  13. }
  14. int main()
  15. {
  16.     int i = (f() + g()) | g(); //bitwise or
  17.     int j = g() | (f() + g()); //bitwise or
  18. }

a) i value is 1 and j value is 1
b) i value is 0 and j value is 0
c) i value is 1 and j value is undefined
d) i and j value are undefined
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

49. Comment on the following C statement.

   n = 1;
   printf("%d, %dn", 3*n, n++);

a) Output will be 3, 2
b) Output will be 3, 1
c) Output will be 6, 1
d) Output is compiler dependent
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

50. How many times i value is checked in the following C program?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         int i = 0;
  5.         while (i < 3)
  6.             i++;
  7.         printf("In while loop\n");
  8.     }

a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 1
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

51. What will be the output of the following C code?

  1.      #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         int i = 0;
  5.         do
  6.         {
  7.             i++;
  8.             if (i == 2)
  9.                 continue;
  10.                 printf("In while loop ");
  11.         } while (i < 2);
  12.         printf("%d\n", i);
  13.     }

a) In while loop 2
b) In while loop in while loop 3
c) In while loop 3
d) Infinite loop
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: None.

52. What will be the data type returned for the following C function?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int func()
  3.     {
  4.         return (double)(char)5.0;
  5.     }

a) char
b) int
c) double
d) multiple type-casting in return is illegal
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.

53. What is the problem in the following C declarations?

   int func(int);
   double func(int);
   int func(float);

a) A function with same name cannot have different signatures
b) A function with same name cannot have different return types
c) A function with same name cannot have different number of parameters
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

54. Which option should be selected to work the following C expression?

string p = "HELLO";

a) typedef char [] string;
b) typedef char *string;
c) typedef char [] string; and typedef char *string;
d) Such expression cannot be generated in C
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.

55. What is the meaning of the following C statement?

 printf(“%10s”, state); 

a) 10 spaces before the string state is printed
b) Print empty spaces if the string state is less than 10 characters
c) Print the last 10 characters of the string
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.

56. What are the elements present in the array of the following C code?

int array[5] = {5};

a) 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
b) 5, 0, 0, 0, 0
c) 5, (garbage), (garbage), (garbage), (garbage)
d) (garbage), (garbage), (garbage), (garbage), 5
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: None.

57. What will be the output of the following C function when EOF returns?

   int fputs(char *line, FILE *fp)

a) ‘�’ character of array line is encountered
b) ‘n’ character in array line is encountered
c) ‘t’ character in array line is encountered
d) When an error occurs
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: None.

58. Which part of the program address space is p stored in the following C code?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int *p;
  3.     int main()
  4.     {
  5.         int i = 0;
  6.         p = &i;
  7.         return 0;
  8.     }

a) Code/text segment
b) Data segment
c) Bss segment
d) Stack
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: None.

59. Which of the following sequences are unaccepted in C language?
a)

   #if
   #else
   #endif

b)

   #if
   #elif
   #endif

c)

   #if
   #if
   #endif

d)

   #if
   #undef
   #endif
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: None.
 
 

59. Comment on the output of following C code.

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     main()
  3.     {
  4.         char *p = 0;
  5.         *p = 'a';
  6.         printf("value in pointer p is %c\n", *p);
  7.     }

a) It will print a
b) It will print 0
c) Compile time error
d) Run time error
View Answer

Answer:d
Output:
$ cc pgm.c
$ a.out
Segmentation fault (core dumped)

60. What is the output of this C code?

  1.    #include <stdio.h>
  2.    main()
  3.    {
  4.        if (sizeof(int) > -1)
  5.            printf("True");
  6.        else
  7.            printf("False");
  8.    }

a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer:b
Output:
$ cc pgm.c
$ a.out
False

61. What is the output of this C code?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     main()
  3.     {
  4.         char *p = "Sanfoundry C-Test";
  5.         p[0] = 'a';
  6.         p[1] = 'b';
  7.         printf("%s", p);
  8.     }

a) abnfoundry C-Test
b) Sanfoundry C-Test
c) Compile time error
d) Run time error
View Answer

Answer:d
Output:
$ cc pgm.c
$ a.out
Segmentation fault (core dumped)

62. What is the output of this C code?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     int main()
  3.     {
  4.         float f = 0.1;
  5.         if (f == 0.1)
  6.             printf("True");
  7.         else
  8.             printf("False");
  9.     }

a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Output:
$ cc pgm.c
$ a.out
False

63. What is the output of this C code?

  1.     #include <stdio.h>
  2.     main()
  3.     {
  4.         int n = 0, m = 0;
  5.         if (n > 0)
  6.             if (m > 0)
  7.                 printf("True");
  8.         else 
  9.             printf("False");
  10.     }

a) True
b) False
c) No Output will be printed
d) Run Time Error
View Answer

Answer:c
Output:
$ cc pgm.c
$ a.out
$


Chapterwise Multiple Choice Questions on C Programming

C MCQ - Multiple Choice Questions and Answers

Our 1000+ MCQs focus on all topics of the C Programming subject, covering 100+ topics. This will help you to prepare for exams, contests, online tests, quizzes, viva-voce, interviews, and certifications. You can practice these MCQs chapter by chapter starting from the 1st chapter or you can jump to any chapter of your choice.
  1. C Data Types, Operators and Expressions
  2. Control Flow Statements in C
  3. C Functions and Structure of a Program
  4. C Pointers and Arrays
  5. Structures, Unions and Bit-Fields in C
  6. C Input and Output
  7. Floating Point & Sizeof Operator in C
  8. Enumerations and Typedefs in C
  9. C String Operations
  10. C Library
  11. Dynamic Memory Allocation in C
  12. C Preprocessor
  13. Miscellaneous Topics in C

2. Multiple Choice Questions on Control Flow Statements in C

The section contains C Language multiple choice questions on switch statements, if-then-else statements, for and while loops, break and continue, goto and labels.

  • If-then-else Statements – 1
  • If-then-else Statements – 2
  • Switch Statements – 1
  • Switch Statements – 2
  • For Loops – 1
  • For Loops – 2
  • While Loops – 1
  • While Loops – 2
  • Break and Continue – 1
  • Break and Continue – 2
  • Goto & Labels – 1
  • Goto & Labels – 2
  • 7. MCQs on Floating Point & Sizeof Operator in C

    The section contains C Language MCQs on float datatype and sizeof keyword.

  • Float Datatype – 1
  • Float Datatype – 2
  • Sizeof Keyword – 1
  • Sizeof Keyword – 2
  • 8. Multiple Choice Questions on Enumerations and Typedefs in C

    The section contains C multiple choice questions and answers on enums and typedef.

  • C Enums – 1
  • C Enums – 2
  • C Typedef
  • 9. C MCQs on String Operations

    The section contains C MCQs on string operations, character and error handling.

  • String Operations – 1
  • String Operations – 2
  • String Operations – 3
  • String Operations – 4
  • Character Handling – 1
  • Character Handling – 2
  • Error Handling
  • 11. C MCQs on Dynamic Memory Allocation

    The section contains C MCQs on static and dynamic memory allocation, dma functions, memory leak and dangling pointers.

  • Static vs Dynamic Memory Allocation
  • DMA Functions, Memory Leak, Dangling Pointers – 1
  • DMA Functions, Memory Leak, Dangling Pointers – 2
  • 12. Multiple Choice Questions on C Preprocessor

    The section contains C multiple choice questions and answers on pragma, stringizers, conditional preprocessor directives and token concatenation.

  • Pragma
  • Stringizers
  • Conditional Preprocessor Directives – 1
  • Conditional Preprocessor Directives – 2
  • Token Concatenation
  • 13. Miscellaneous Topics in C

    The section contains C MCQ questions on inline, endianness, recursion and signed qualifier.

  • Inline
  • Endianness
  • Recursion
  • Signed Qualifier
  • If you would like to learn "C Programming" thoroughly, you should attempt to work on the complete set of 1000+ MCQs - multiple choice questions and answers mentioned above. It will immensely help anyone trying to crack an exam or an interview.

    Wish you the best in your endeavor to learn and master C Programming!

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