How to learn C programming?

Whether you’re learning C programming for software development, systems programming, or academic purposes, having a clear goal can guide your learning. Consistent practice with coding and debugging is critical. Join communities like Stack Overflow or Reddit's r/C_Programming to ask questions and share knowledge. Work on real projects such as creating small programs. Introduction to C and C++ Specialization by Duke University on is a great starting resource.

What are the best C programming courses on Coursera?

Top options include C Programming for Beginners from Duke University and C Programming for Everybody from the University of Michigan . These courses cover everything from basic syntax to advanced topics like pointers, memory management, and data structures .

Can I learn C programming for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many C programming courses offer a free audit option, allowing learners to access video lessons and reading materials at no cost. To complete assignments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a C programming course?

You’ll learn how to write C code, understand control structures (like loops and conditionals), use functions, work with arrays and strings, and manage memory with pointers. Some courses also cover debugging and testing C programs.

Do I need coding experience to start learning C programming?

Not at all. Many courses are designed for beginners and introduce C concepts step by step. However, some familiarity with basic programming logic can be helpful, especially if you want to move on to more advanced topics or other programming languages.

"Can Coursera’s C programming courses help me in my career? "

Yes. C programming is fundamental in areas like embedded systems , game development , and operating systems. Coursera courses can help you build job-ready skills, strengthen your programming foundation, and prepare for roles that require low-level programming expertise.

Top C Programming Courses - Learn C Programming Online

Find the Best C Programming Course for Your Goals

University of California, Irvine
Foundations of Objective-C App Development
Skills you'll gain: Objective-C (Programming Language), iOS Development, Apple iOS, Prototyping, Mobile Development, C (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Programming Principles, Data Structures, Debugging
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
557 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Amazon Web Services
AWS Cloud Support Associate
Skills you'll gain: AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Command-Line Interface, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS CloudFormation, Root Cause Analysis, Amazon DynamoDB, Customer Relationship Building, Network Troubleshooting, Amazon Web Services, Customer Relationship Management, Software Architecture, IT Automation, Linux Commands, Cloud Computing, Linux, Amazon S3, Scalability, Technical Support, Web Applications
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.4K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Vanderbilt University
Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Productivity, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Modeling, Creative Thinking, Ingenuity, Brainstorming, Problem Solving, Application Development, Collaboration
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google
Automate Cybersecurity Tasks with Python
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Python Programming, Cybersecurity, Cyber Security Assessment, Scripting, Programming Principles, Algorithms, Automation, Integrated Development Environments, File Management, Data Structures
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Johns Hopkins University
Genomic Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Unix Commands, Biostatistics, Exploratory Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Unix, Data Science, Data Management, Statistical Methods, Molecular Biology, Command-Line Interface, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Linux Commands, Data Analysis Software, Statistical Modeling, Data Structures, Data Analysis, R Programming, Computational Thinking, Jupyter
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
6.6K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of London
Introduction to Computer Programming
Skills you'll gain: Debugging, Development Environment, Javascript, Program Development, Computer Graphics, Computer Programming, User Interface (UI), Interactive Design, Human Computer Interaction, Data Management, Animations
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
904 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
Data Analysis with Python
Skills you'll gain: Data Wrangling, Data Cleansing, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation, Data Import/Export, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Science, Statistical Analysis, Descriptive Statistics, Regression Analysis, Predictive Modeling, Pandas (Python Package), Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Machine Learning Methods, Data Pipelines, NumPy
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
19K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
IBM
Machine Learning with Python
Skills you'll gain: Supervised Learning, Feature Engineering, Jupyter, Unsupervised Learning, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Python Programming, Predictive Modeling, Machine Learning, Dimensionality Reduction, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Matplotlib, NumPy, Regression Analysis, Statistical Modeling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers
Skills you'll gain: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), HTML and CSS, Javascript, Ajax, Responsive Web Design, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), Front-End Web Development, Web Design, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Web Design and Development, JSON, Web Applications, Web Development, Scripting, Usability, Cross Platform Development, Browser Compatibility, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Event-Driven Programming, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
17K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
The Data Scientist’s Toolbox
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Version Control, Data Science, Big Data, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Data Analysis, R Programming, Statistical Programming, Development Environment, Integrated Development Environments, Software Installation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
34K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Initiation à la programmation (en C++)
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Game Design, Algorithms, Debugging
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
451 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Functional Programming in Scala
Skills you'll gain: Scala Programming, Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, User Interface (UI), Distributed Computing, Programming Principles, Big Data, Software Design, Data Structures, Software Design Patterns, Functional Design, Data Manipulation, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Interactive Data Visualization, Computer Programming, Data Processing, Real Time Data, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Performance Tuning, Algorithms
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months