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

Status: Free Trial
CertNexus
Extract, Transform, and Load Data
Skills you'll gain: Extract, Transform, Load, Data Manipulation, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Transformation, Data Warehousing, Data Integration, Data Quality, Data Import/Export, Data Collection
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
31 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Northeastern University
Information Systems Foundations
Skills you'll gain: Systems Thinking, Software Visualization, Object Oriented Design, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Engineering Software, Web Applications, Software Development Life Cycle, Risk Management, Web Development, Software Design, Data Modeling, Software Engineering, Unified Modeling Language, Business Architecture, Python Programming, Business Process Modeling, Application Development, Computer Programming, Development Environment, Software Installation
2.3
Rating, 2.3 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Object Oriented Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Java, Java Programming, File Management, Application Development, Computer Programming, Program Development, Data Structures, Data Management
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Peking University
算法设计与分析 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Algorithms, Mathematical Modeling, Pseudocode, Applied Mathematics, Computational Thinking, Theoretical Computer Science, Programming Principles, Graph Theory, Data Structures, Design Strategies, Bioinformatics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
53 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Intermediate Object-Oriented Programming with Java
Skills you'll gain: Java, Mobile Development, Java Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Application Frameworks, Application Development, Program Development
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
66 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Coursera Project Network
Build a Website using an API with HTML, JavaScript, and JSON
Skills you'll gain: JSON, Restful API, HTML and CSS, Web Design, Cloud API, Web Development, Application Programming Interface (API), Web Applications, Responsive Web Design, Real Time Data, Javascript
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
31 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Learn Automation Testing with Java and Selenium Webdriver
Skills you'll gain: Selenium (Software), JUnit, Eclipse (Software), Java Programming, Java, Test Automation, Integrated Development Environments, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Testing, Object Oriented Design, Browser Compatibility, Test Data, Test Tools, Test Case, Computer Programming, Software Quality Assurance, Regression Testing, Development Environment, Programming Principles, HTML and CSS
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Duke University
Introduction to FastAPI framework
Skills you'll gain: Restful API, Application Programming Interface (API), Application Deployment, Software Documentation, Web Applications, JSON, Application Development, Server Side, Program Development, Test Tools, Python Programming, Data Validation
2.7
Rating, 2.7 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Duke University
Web Scraping with Python
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Scripting, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Web Development, Unstructured Data, Web Applications, Python Programming
3.2
Rating, 3.2 out of 5 stars
17 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
IBM
AI Workflow: Data Analysis and Hypothesis Testing
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Dashboard, Data Analysis, Data Science, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Jupyter, Matplotlib, Data Cleansing, Pandas (Python Package), Statistical Inference, Statistics, Data Manipulation
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
123 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Python para Ciencia de Datos
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Predictive Analytics, Business Analytics, Database Management, Data Science, Relational Databases, Forecasting, Python Programming
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
67 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Imperial College London
Interventions and Calibration
Skills you'll gain: Mathematical Modeling, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Statistical Modeling, R Programming, Differential Equations, Statistical Methods, Public Health
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
56 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks