What is the difference between a variable and a constant in C programming?
Answer:
What is the difference between a variable and a constant in C programming?
In C programming, a variable is a memory location that holds a value which can be changed throughout the program execution. On the other hand, a constant is a memory location that holds a value which cannot be changed once it is assigned.
The main difference between a variable and a constant is that variables are used to store data that can be modified or changed during the program execution, while constants are used to store data that will remain the same throughout the program execution. Variables are declared using the keyword "int" or "float" etc, while constants are declared using the keyword "const" and the value is assigned at the time of declaration.
For example, if we want to store a value that can be changed during the program execution, we will use a variable. For example, if we want to store a value of age that can be changed throughout the program execution, we will use a variable. On the other hand, if we want to store a value that will remain the same throughout the program execution, we will use a constant. For example, if we want to store the value of pi which is 3.14, we will use a constant.
| Variable | Constant |
|---|---|
| A variable is a memory location where a programmer can store data and can be changed during program execution | A constant is a memory location where a programmer can store data and cannot be changed during program execution |
| It is declared using the keyword "int", "float", "double" etc | It is declared using the keyword "const" or "#define" |
| It takes up memory space in the RAM | It takes up memory space in the ROM |
| The value of a variable can be changed | The value of a constant cannot be changed |
| Examples: int x = 10; x = 15; | Examples: const int x = 10; |
In summary, a variable is a memory location that can hold different values during the execution of a program, whereas a constant is a memory location that holds a fixed value that cannot be changed during the execution of a program.
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