What C is used for
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What people build with C
- C is a systems language — used where speed and control matter most.
- It is tiny and fast, so it runs on specks of silicon and huge servers alike.
- Here are its most common jobs.
Operating systems
- The operating system is the software that runs your whole computer.
- The Linux kernel is written in C — and so are parts of Windows and macOS.
- They must be fast and talk straight to the hardware: a perfect job for C.
Tiny computers everywhere
- C runs on embedded systems — the little chips hidden inside everyday things.
- Cars, washing machines, and microwaves all have one running C.
- A great place to start is an Arduino, a small board you program in C.
Databases and other languages
- The big databases behind websites are written in C.
- So are the runtimes of other languages — the engine that runs your code.
- In fact, Python itself is written in C.
Run C on your own computer
- In this course, your C is compiled and run for you on the server.
- For your own projects, you can set C up on your computer.
- See the Set up your computer lesson when you're ready.