Effective C, 2nd edition, is an introduction to essential C language programming that will soon have you writing programs, solving problems, and building working systems.

The world runs on code written in the C programming language, yet most schools begin the curriculum with Python or Java. Effective C bridges this gap and brings C into the modern era—updated to the latest C23 standard. With the aid of this instant classic, you’ll soon be writing professional, portable, and secure C programs to power robust systems and solve real-world problems.

Robert C. Seacord introduces C and the C standard library while addressing best practices, common errors, and open debates in the C community. Developed together with other C standards committee experts, Effective C will teach you how to debug, test, and analyze C programs. You’ll benefit from Seacord’s concise explanations of C language constructs and behaviors, and from his 40 years of coding experience.