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
Google Cloud
Architecting and Installing the Apigee Hybrid API Platform
Skills you'll gain: API Gateway, Kubernetes, Cloud API, Google Cloud Platform, Hybrid Cloud Computing, Application Programming Interface (API), Cloud-Native Computing, Application Deployment, Restful API, Software Installation, Verification And Validation, Configuration Management, Identity and Access Management
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
39 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Introduction to Java and Programming Basics
Skills you'll gain: Eclipse (Software), Integrated Development Environments, Java Programming, Java, Development Environment, Software Installation, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Debugging
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
Intermediate Object-Oriented Programming for Unreal Games
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Video Game Development, Unreal Engine, Event-Driven Programming, Unity Engine, C# (Programming Language), Software Design Patterns, UI Components, Programming Principles, Debugging, File Management, Data Structures
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Digital Manufacturing
Skills you'll gain: SolidWorks (CAD), Computer-Aided Design, Computer Graphics, 3D Modeling, Mechanical Design, Manufacturing Processes, Engineering Drawings, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Engineering Design Process, Prototyping, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, Industrial Design, Automation, Production Process, Manufacturing and Production, Simulation and Simulation Software, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Robotic Process Automation, Systems Architecture
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Corporate Finance Institute
Data Science & Machine Learning Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Data Science, Data Analysis, Business Analytics, Data Literacy, Predictive Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Regression Analysis, Data Modeling, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Statistical Analysis, Business Intelligence, Data Storytelling, Machine Learning, Supervised Learning, Data Cleansing, Exploratory Data Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Learn Object-Oriented Programming with PHP
Skills you'll gain: PHP (Scripting Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Object Oriented Design, Software Design Patterns, Maintainability
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Rust for DevOps
Skills you'll gain: Containerization, CI/CD, Docker (Software), DevOps, Jenkins, Rust (Programming Language), Prometheus (Software), System Monitoring, JSON, Scripting, Command-Line Interface, Automation, GitHub
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Audio digital con Pure Data
Skills you'll gain: Musical Composition, Music, Music Theory, Digital Communications, Patch Management, Instrumental Music, Performance Tuning, Programming Principles, Multimedia, Open Source Technology, Computer Programming Tools
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
37 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Getting Started with CyberGIS
Skills you'll gain: Geospatial Information and Technology, Geographic Information Systems, Apache Hadoop, Spatial Data Analysis, Geospatial Mapping, Spatial Analysis, Big Data, Matplotlib, Data Processing, Computational Thinking, Distributed Computing, Data Manipulation
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
30 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
API Validation with Postman
Skills you'll gain: Postman API Platform, Data Validation, Application Programming Interface (API), Restful API, Secure Coding, Verification And Validation, Microservices, Performance Testing, Security Testing, Data Integrity, Authentications
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
C++ Class Development
Skills you'll gain: Unreal Engine, C++ (Programming Language), Video Game Development, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Architecture, Software Design, Programming Principles, Application Development, Debugging
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Data Analysis with OpenAI API: Save time with GenAI
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, Exploratory Data Analysis, OpenAI, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Trend Analysis, Product Knowledge, Sales Strategy, Application Programming Interface (API), E-Commerce, Data Manipulation, Python Programming
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours