In the context of C programming, what is the importance of having a base case in a recursive function?
- It makes the program run faster
- It prevents infinite recursion and stack overflow
- It reduces the need for using pointers
- It simplifies the program's overall structure
Having a base case in a recursive function is crucial to prevent infinite recursion, which can lead to a stack overflow and program termination. The base case provides a stopping condition for the recursion and ensures the function terminates properly.
You are writing a C program where you need to maintain a counter that persists across multiple function calls. Which type of variable would you use?
- Automatic variable
- Global variable
- Local variable
- Static variable
In this scenario, you would use a static variable to maintain a counter that persists across multiple function calls. Static variables retain their values between function calls, making them suitable for this purpose. Local variables have limited scope and are not suitable for maintaining a persistent counter. Global variables introduce unnecessary complexity and may lead to naming conflicts. Automatic variables are limited to a function's scope and are not designed for persistent storage.
What happens to the memory allocation when a structure is defined?
- Memory is allocated for all its members
- Memory is allocated for the structure itself
- Memory is allocated only for the first member
- No memory allocation occurs
When you define a structure in C, memory is allocated for the structure itself, which includes memory for all its members.
In a union, all members share the same ________.
- Data Type
- Memory Address
- Name
- Value
In a union, all members share the same memory location. Unions allow different variables to occupy the same memory space, providing efficient storage.
What is the purpose of the 'break' statement within a loop?
- Continue to the next iteration
- Exit the loop
- Print a message
- Skip the current iteration
The 'break' statement is used to exit a loop prematurely. When encountered, it terminates the loop and continues with the next code after the loop.
When defining a bit field, the data type ________ is typically used.
- char
- double
- float
- int
When defining a bit field in C, the char data type is typically used, as it allows for better control over the number of bits allocated to the field.
When dealing with large files, what is the advantage of using fread and fwrite over fscanf and fprintf?
- fread and fwrite allow block-level operations.
- fscanf and fprintf are more efficient for large files.
- fread and fwrite provide better error handling.
- fscanf and fprintf simplify binary file handling.
The correct option is fread and fwrite allow block-level operations. Using these functions, data can be read or written in larger chunks, reducing the number of I/O operations and improving performance when dealing with large files in C.
How can command line arguments be used to influence the flow of a program at runtime?
- By modifying the source code of the program.
- By passing arguments when the program is executed.
- By using conditional statements in the program.
- By using preprocessor directives in the code.
Command line arguments are parameters passed to a program when it's executed, allowing you to influence the program's behavior at runtime.
In the context of function pointers in C, a callback function is a function that is passed as a(n) ________ to another function.
- Argument
- Parameter
- Pointer
- Variable
In C, a callback function is passed as a parameter to another function, allowing the function to call back to the provided function.
What happens if you try to modify a character in a string literal?
- It converts the string to uppercase
- It is allowed and won't cause any issues
- It raises a compile-time error
- It raises a run-time error
Modifying a character in a string literal is not allowed because string literals are stored in read-only memory, and attempting to modify them will result in a compile-time error.