Defining structs

Learn to define a struct that combines multiple fields.

struct: grouping data

A struct groups data of different types under one roof. It starts with the struct keyword and members go inside curly braces.

struct Point {
    int x;
    int y;
};

Here struct Point is a type with two int members. The semicolon at the end is mandatory. This is the basic tool to manage two coordinates of a point together. The same approach can model many real objects like student, book or product.

Defining members

Struct members are written inside curly braces like normal variable declarations. Each member has its own type and name.

struct Book {
    char title[64];
    int year;
    double price;
};

Here title is a string, year is an integer, price is a double. Member names must be unique within the same struct. To access a member you use the . operator; we will see this in the next lesson.

Exercise Define struct Point and print

Define struct Point with int x and int y members. In main create a Point variable with {3, 4} and print x and y with printf.

Show example solution

struct Point { int x; int y; };
struct Point p = {3, 4};
printf("%d %d\n", p.x, p.y);

Test yourself

Which keyword is used to declare a struct?
- type
- class
- struct
- record
Show answer

struct — In C the struct keyword declares a struct.

Fill in the blank: struct definition

struct Point {
    int x;
    int ____;
};

Show answer

struct Point {
    int x;
    int y;
};

Match concept to explanation

struct

Struct keyword
member

Variable inside struct
{ }

Surrounds members
;

Ends definition

Next lesson: Using structs

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