How to Use Structs in C: Get and Print Structure Variable Values

Introduction

Structs are a powerful feature in C programming that allow you to group variables of different data types under a single name. This makes handling related data more efficient and organized. In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a structure, input its values, and display them with a practical example. This tutorial is beginner-friendly and uses easy-to-understand concepts.

What is a Struct in C?

A struct (short for structure) is a user-defined data type that groups related variables under one name. These variables, known as members, can have different data types. Structs are widely used in C for organizing complex data and simplifying operations.

Key Features of Structs:

• Enables grouping of variables with different types.
• Uses a single memory block for all members.
• Allows easy access to members via the struct's name or pointers.

Example: Program to Input and Print Struct Values

In this example, we define a struct called student with attributes for student number, name, marks, and percentage. We'll input the values for two student records and print them.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

struct student {
    int sno, m;
    char sname[20];
    float per;
};

void main() {
    struct student s1, s2;

    printf("\nEnter sno, marks, and name for student 1: ");
    scanf("%d %d %s", &s1.sno, &s1.m, s1.sname);
    s1.per = s1.m / 3.0;

    printf("\nEnter sno, marks, and name for student 2: ");
    scanf("%d %d %s", &s2.sno, &s2.m, s2.sname);
    s2.per = s2.m / 3.0;

    printf("\nStudent 1: %d  %d  %s  %.2f", s1.sno, s1.m, s1.sname, s1.per);
    printf("\nStudent 2: %d  %d  %s  %.2f", s2.sno, s2.m, s2.sname, s2.per);
}

Output:

Enter sno, marks, and name for student 1:
101 270 Alice

Enter sno, marks, and name for student 2:
102 300 Bob

Student 1: 101  270  Alice  90.00
Student 2: 102  300  Bob  100.00

Explanation of the Code

1. Struct Declaration:
   • The struct student is declared with members sno, m, sname, and per.
2. Input Values:
   • Use scanf to input values for student number, marks, and name.
   • The percentage is calculated by dividing marks by 3.0.
3. Print Values:
   • The values of both student records are displayed using printf.

Benefits of Using Structs in C

• Organizes related data for better readability.
• Simplifies passing multiple variables to functions.
• Essential for creating complex data structures like linked lists and trees.

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Conclusion

In this tutorial, we defined a student struct, input values for two records, and printed them. Structs are a fundamental part of C programming, enabling developers to handle complex data efficiently. Mastering structs will improve your ability to write clean and maintainable code. Try implementing more examples to strengthen your understanding of this powerful feature.