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

The University of Edinburgh
Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: Software Engineering, Video Game Development, Software Testing, Software Development, Programming Principles, Software Design, Game Design, Computer Programming, Animation and Game Design, Debugging, Computational Thinking, Algorithms
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Data Analysis with R Programming
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Ggplot2, R Programming, Data Analysis, Tidyverse (R Package), Statistical Programming, Data Visualization Software, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, Package and Software Management, Data Structures
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Dartmouth College
C Programming: Language Foundations - 2
Skills you'll gain: Computer Programming Tools, C (Programming Language), Programming Principles, Embedded Systems, Program Development, Computer Engineering, Development Environment, Algorithms, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Debugging
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
94 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Dartmouth College
C Programming: Pointers and Memory Management - 4
Skills you'll gain: C (Programming Language), Embedded Systems, Computer Engineering, System Programming, Operating Systems, Computer Programming Tools, Data Structures, Debugging, Linux
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
56 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
Introduction to C# Programming and Unity
Skills you'll gain: Unity Engine, Debugging, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Video Game Development, C# (Programming Language), Game Design, Computer Programming, Integrated Development Environments, Data Storage, User Interface (UI), Scripting
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Ball State University
Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Natural Language Processing, Data Science, Scripting, NumPy, Debugging, Data Manipulation
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
Programming with Google Go
Skills you'll gain: Go (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Algorithms, JSON, Programming Principles, OS Process Management, Functional Design, Data Structures, Other Programming Languages, System Programming, Development Environment, Software Design, Remote Access Systems, Software Installation, Operating Systems, File Management, Program Development, Computer Architecture
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
Go and C++: Programming in Two Successor Languages of C
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Go (Programming Language), Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design Patterns, Debugging, Object Oriented Design, Programming Principles, Unit Testing, Algorithms, C (Programming Language), Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Computer Programming, Software Testing, Computer Science, Graph Theory, File Management, Artificial Intelligence, Integration Testing
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
2.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
C# Programming for Unity Game Development
Skills you'll gain: Unity Engine, Debugging, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Video Game Development, C# (Programming Language), Game Design, Software Design Patterns, Computer Programming, Event-Driven Programming, Data Structures, Integrated Development Environments, Data Storage, Application Development, Software Design, Program Development, UI Components, Cross Platform Development, Scripting, Data Import/Export, Development Environment
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Programming in Python
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Unit Testing, Test Driven Development (TDD), Programming Principles, Software Testing, Data Structures, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Development Environment, Integrated Development Environments, Debugging
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Programming with JavaScript
Skills you'll gain: Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Javascript, Unit Testing, Web Applications, Programming Principles, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Event-Driven Programming, Node.JS, JSON, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Debugging, Package and Software Management, Program Development, Functional Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of London
Object Oriented Programming
Skills you'll gain: Pseudocode, C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Integrated Development Environments, Development Environment, Programming Principles, Debugging, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Program Development, Algorithms, Test Data, Data Validation, User Interface (UI), Unit Testing, Data Import/Export, Data Management, Command-Line Interface, Statistical Programming
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
219 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months