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
O.P. Jindal Global University
Machine Learning for Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Analytics, Anomaly Detection, Digital Marketing, Web Analytics, Digital Advertising, Dimensionality Reduction, Unsupervised Learning, Customer Analysis, Search Engine Marketing, Supervised Learning, Online Advertising, Customer Retention, Text Mining, Predictive Analytics, Google Analytics, Search Engine Optimization, Applied Machine Learning, Data Ethics, Data Mining, Customer Insights
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
15 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Automation and Scripting with Python
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Git (Version Control System), Scripting, Version Control, Test Automation, Software Testing, Cloud API, Automation, Restful API, Application Programming Interface (API), Scalability, Python Programming, Data Cleansing, Performance Tuning, File Management
3.7
Rating, 3.7 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Codio
Object-Oriented Python: Inheritance and Encapsulation
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Python Programming, File Management
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
146 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidade de São Paulo
Processamento Neural de Linguagem Natural em Português I
Skills you'll gain: Natural Language Processing, Artificial Neural Networks, Tensorflow, Python Programming, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Applied Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Text Mining
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Amazon Web Services
Data Analytics and Databases on AWS
Skills you'll gain: Extract, Transform, Load, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Amazon Web Services, Data Warehousing, Big Data, Databases, Business Analytics, NoSQL, Data Analysis, Data Pipelines, Unstructured Data, Data Processing, Cloud API, SQL, Data Storage, Relational Databases, Data Transformation, Data Visualization Software
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
53 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Ciencia de datos energéticos
Skills you'll gain: Electrical Power, Electric Power Systems, Energy and Utilities, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Data Science, Statistical Methods, Data Modeling, Python Programming, Data Processing, Applied Machine Learning, Data Visualization Software, Regression Analysis, Artificial Neural Networks
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
22 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Images and Links in HTML
Skills you'll gain: Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Web Design, Web Content, Web Design and Development, Web Development, Information Architecture
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
331 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Advanced Data Structures, RSA and Quantum Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Public Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS), Cryptography, Data Structures, Data Encryption Standard, Algorithms, Encryption, Theoretical Computer Science, Computer Science, Programming Principles, Computational Thinking, IBM Cloud, Linear Algebra, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Arithmetic
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
32 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Programar en Python
Skills you'll gain: Test Driven Development (TDD), Unit Testing, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Python Programming, Programming Principles, Debugging, Data Structures, Back-End Web Development, Computer Programming, Database Development, Software Development Tools
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
98 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Python: de cero a usuario
Skills you'll gain: Package and Software Management, Jupyter, Software Installation, Python Programming, Computational Thinking, Mac OS, Programming Principles, Microsoft Windows, Cross Platform Development, Software Documentation, Command-Line Interface
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
34 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Introduction to the Tidyverse
Skills you'll gain: Tidyverse (R Package), Data Wrangling, Data Cleansing, Data Transformation, Data Manipulation, R Programming, Data Science, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Analysis, Ggplot2, File Management, Data Import/Export
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
50 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Data Visualization with Plotly Express
Skills you'll gain: Plotly, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Visualization Software, Scatter Plots, Ggplot2, Data Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
269 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours