C is one of the oldest programming languages and still one of the most widely used. Whether you're an experienced C programmer or you're new to the language, you know how frustrating it can be to hunt through hundreds of pages in your reference books to find that bit of information on a certain function, type or other syntax element. Or even worse, you may not have your books with you. Your answer is the C Pocket Reference. Concise and easy to use, this handy pocket guide to C is a must-have quick reference for any C programmer. It's the only C reference that fits in your pocket and is an excellent companion to O'Reilly's other C books. Ideal as an introduction for beginners and a quick reference for advanced programmers, the C Pocket Reference consists of two parts: a compact description of the C language and a thematically structured reference to the standard library. The representation of the language is based on the ANSI standard and includes extensions introduced in 1999. An index is included to help you quickly find the information you need. This small book covers the following:

• C language fundamentals

• Data types

• Expressions and operators

• C statements

• Declarations

• Functions

• Preprocessor directives

• The standard library

O'Reilly's Pocket References have become a favorite among programmers everywhere. By providing a wealth of important details in a concise, well-organized format, these handy books deliver just what you need to complete the task at hand. When you've reached a sticking point in your work and need to get to a solution quickly, the new C Pocket Reference is the book you'll want to have.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 5 Ratings

Solid and concise! - 2002-12-14
Reviewer Rating:
True to its name, this book packs a lot of information in a pocket size package: a solid language description, a quick reference to the C standard library covering C99 and, last but not least, an extensive index. It is well organized and concise, it explains and gives you examples. If you are a newbie to C programming looking for a tutorial, keep your hands off. If you have grasped some basics of C programming, get it and use it!

Solid info, but written very poorly... - 2009-01-26
Reviewer Rating:
Sorry I can't agree with the previous reviewers, but it must be stated that this book is written very poorly. I appreciate the concept (a compact, concise reference of the C language), but the execution is sorely lacking. For starters, there is very little sample code in the book, and only a single fully functioning program (given on p. 3). I know the book's intended to be a reference, not a thorough C tutorial, but I still believe that it would be much better if the book guided you through C language with more samples and some simple, short programs to demonstrate the concepts presented.

The most glaring problem, however is the fact that the English language used in the book itself is more impenetrable than lowest-level programming language. This stems from the fact that the book was originally written in German, and the entire text had to be translated. Sorry, to say it, but there's definitely something lost in translation. From sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph, there's no flow whatsoever--every expression is very awkward and difficult to understand, and the reader's eyes begin to glaze over after reading only a few pages.

To summarize, a book should present its concepts in a logical and easy-to-follow manner, and this book definitely does NOT do that. Avoid.

Packed Full of great info! - 2005-02-23
Reviewer Rating:
This is a great book, for the size of the book it is packed full of
C. It also covers alot of C99.

A backpocket Reference - 2006-05-18
Reviewer Rating:
I am a computer Science Student and the one book that I take to every class is this book. It is the perfect book for quick lookup I would recomend it to anyone

A handy reference - 2008-10-09
Reviewer Rating:
O'Reilly Pocket Books are known for being thorough, concise, and clear, and this one is no different. I have half a dozen on my bookshelf over a variety of subjects, and they come in handy for that occassion when you want a specific answer in short order.

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