scope:

This standard specifies:

• the representation of C programs;

• the syntax and constraints of the C language;

• the semantic rules for interpreting C programs;

• the representation of input data to be processed by C programs;

• the representation of output data produced by C programs;

• the restrictions and limits imposed by a conforming implementation of C.

This standard does not specify:

• the mechanism by which C programs are transformed for use by a data-processing system;

• the mechanism by which C programs are invoked for use by a data-processing system;

• the mechanism by which input data are transformed for use by a C program;

• the mechanism by which output data are transformed after being produced by a C program;

• the size or complexity of a program and its data that will exceed the capacity of any specific data-processing system or the capacity of a particular processor;

• all minimal requirements of a data-processing system that is capable of supporting a conforming implementation.

Purpose: This standard specifies the form and establishes the interpretation of programs written in the C programming language.¹

¹ This standard is designed to promote the portability of C programs among a variety of data-processing systems. it is intended for use by implementors and knowledgeable programmers, and is not a tutorial. It is accompanied by a Rationale document that explains many of the decisions of the Technical Committee that produced it.