Best C Programming Language Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: Apr 28, 2023

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C Programming Language Books are essential resources for anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of computer programming. These books cover a wide range of topics, from basic syntax and data types to advanced programming concepts such as memory management and algorithm design. Some of the most popular C Programming Language Books include "The C Programming Language" by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie, "C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide" by Greg Perry and Dean Miller, and "Head First C" by David Griffiths and Dawn Griffiths. These books are perfect for beginners and experienced programmers alike, providing clear explanations and practical examples to help readers become proficient in the C programming language.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

C Programming Language, 2nd Edition Cover #TOP 1
C Programming Language, 2nd Edition
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Make: Electronics: Learning by Discovery: A hands-on primer for the new electronics enthusiast Cover #TOP 2
Make: Electronics: Learning by Discovery: A hands-on primer for the new electronics enthusiast
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development Cover #TOP 3
Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 C Programming Language Books

#TOP 1

C Programming Language, 2nd Edition

Brian W. Kernighan
Dennis M. Ritchie
Pearson
Mar 22, 1988
C Programming Language, 2nd Edition Cover
C Programming Language, 2nd Edition

The "C Programming Language, 2nd Edition" is a complete guide to programming in ANSI standard C language. Written by the creators of C, this book helps readers understand the rich set of operators, data structures, and control flow that C offers. The second edition has been updated with additional examples and problem sets to assist readers in implementing difficult language constructs. This book is concise and powerful, making it an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn C programming or advance their skills. Highly recommended for novices and experienced programmers alike.

Make: Electronics: Learning by Discovery: A hands-on primer for the new electronics enthusiast

Platt, Charles
Oct 12, 2021
Make: Electronics: Learning by Discovery: A hands-on primer for the new electronics enthusiast Cover
Make: Electronics: Learning by Discovery: A hands-on primer for the new electronics enthusiast

Make: Electronics: Learning by Discovery is an excellent introductory text for new electronics enthusiasts. The book takes a hands-on approach to teaching, encouraging readers to learn by building their own circuits and making their own mistakes. The third edition includes new diagrams, photographs, and rewritten text. The book also provides affordable component kits and a buying guide for basic tools. The circuits demonstrated, such as a combination lock for a computer or a game that tests the speed of reflexes, are simple and quick to build. The book assumes no prior knowledge and is ideal for beginners. Overall, Make: Electronics is an engaging and informative read for those looking to learn about electronics.

Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development

Blandy, Jim
Orendorff, Jason
Tindall, Leonora
Jul 20, 2021
Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development Cover
Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development

Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development is a practical guide for experienced systems programmers, demonstrating how Rust's features provide control over memory consumption and processor use while ensuring memory safety and concurrency. The book covers Rust's fundamental data types, ownership and borrowing, flexible and efficient code writing, fast multithreading, and Rust's key power tools, among other topics. The authors, Jim Blandy, Jason Orendorff, and Leonora Tindall, have revised and updated the book to cover the Rust 2021 Edition. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for programmers who want to write performance-sensitive code that is both fast and safe.

#TOP 4

Effective Modern C++: 42 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of C++11 and C++14

Meyers, Scott
O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Dec 5, 2014
Effective Modern C++: 42 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of C++11 and C++14 Cover
Effective Modern C++: 42 Specific Ways to Improve Your Use of C++11 and C++14

Effective Modern C++ is a practical guide for programmers who want to write great software using C++11 and C++14. It covers topics such as move semantics, lambda expressions, and concurrency support, and provides techniques for writing clear, correct, and efficient code. Written by Scott Meyers, a renowned expert in C++ programming, this book follows the guideline-based, example-driven format of his earlier books. It's a must-read for any programmer who wants to use modern C++ effectively and well.

Alexander, Michael
Kusleika, Richard
Wiley
Oct 23, 2018

The Access 2019 Bible is a comprehensive reference book for Microsoft Access database management tool. From beginners to advanced users, this book provides clear guidance on creating custom database solutions perfectly suited for one's needs. The book covers everything from database fundamentals and terminology to XML and web services. Additionally, the companion website features examples and databases used in the book, trial software, and a special offer from Database Creations. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to harness the power of Microsoft Access.

#TOP 6

C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition

King, K. N.
W. W. Norton & Company
Apr 19, 2008
C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition Cover
C Programming: A Modern Approach, 2nd Edition

The second edition of "C Programming: A Modern Approach" by K. N. King is an updated and comprehensive guide to the C programming language. The book's spiral approach makes it accessible to both beginners and advanced students, and its trademark Q&A sections aid in understanding complex topics. This edition includes coverage of the C99 standard, a significant number of exercises, longer programming projects, and revisions and updates. With adoptions at over 225 colleges, it is one of the leading C textbooks of the last ten years. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn or improve their C programming skills.

C++ Concurrency in Action

Williams, Anthony
Manning
Feb 10, 2019
C++ Concurrency in Action Cover
C++ Concurrency in Action

C++ Concurrency in Action, Second Edition is a comprehensive guide to writing robust and efficient multithreaded applications in C++. The book covers all the latest updates and changes to C++ 14 and 17, including strong support for multithreaded and multiprocessor programming. Anthony Williams, a concurrency master, presents practical tasks and examples in every chapter, making it an excellent resource for intermediate C and C++ developers. The book is unique in its coverage of designing fully functional multithreaded algorithms and data structures. Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in writing production-grade C++ concurrency.

Programming Arduino: Getting Started with Sketches, Second Edition (Tab)

Monk, Simon
McGraw Hill TAB
Jun 9, 2016
Programming Arduino: Getting Started with Sketches, Second Edition (Tab) Cover
Programming Arduino: Getting Started with Sketches, Second Edition (Tab)

Programming Arduino: Getting Started with Sketches, Second Edition (Tab) is a step-by-step guide that teaches how to program all Arduino models. It features easy-to-follow explanations, fun examples, and downloadable sample programs. The book covers C language basics, digital and analog inputs and outputs, using functions from the standard Arduino library, and writing sketches that can store data. Additionally, it covers interfacing with displays, connecting to the internet, and developing programs for the Internet of Things. Overall, this book is an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn Arduino programming from scratch.

#TOP 9

Build Your Own Redis with C/C++: Learn network programming and data structures by building a Redis-like server from scratch with C/C++

Smith, James
Jan 24, 2023
Build Your Own Redis with C/C++: Learn network programming and data structures by building a Redis-like server from scratch with C/C++ Cover
Build Your Own Redis with C/C++: Learn network programming and data structures by building a Redis-like server from scratch with C/C++.

This book, "Build Your Own Redis with C/C++", is an excellent resource for those wanting to learn more about network programming and data structures. By building a Redis-like server from scratch with C/C++, readers can level up their skills and gain a broader understanding of system programming and infrastructure software. The book breaks down the core concepts into easy-to-digest steps, making it accessible to beginners. Overall, this book is a great choice for anyone looking to expand their knowledge in these areas.

#TOP 10

C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide

Perry, Greg
Miller, Dean
Que Publishing
Aug 7, 2013
C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide Cover
C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide

The "C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide" is an updated and practical guide to learning C programming. It covers all the basics, from organizing programs to working with variables, functions, and data structures. The book is suitable for beginners who want to learn C programming without becoming technical experts. The author, Greg Perry, is known for his ability to bring programming topics down to the beginners' level. The book is fully updated for the new C11 standard and includes free, open-source tools for Windows, OS X, or Linux. Overall, it is an excellent resource for anyone looking to start creating useful, reliable C code.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the C programming language book good for beginners?

C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide is an exceptional book for beginners. It teaches the basics of the C language clearly. You can also find some very easy steps to learn C Programming. The method to organize programs along with pointers, variables, operators, I/O, functions, etc., is explained in the book.

2. Is the C programming language book free?

The Objective-C 2.0 Essentials free online book contains 34 chapters of detailed information intended to provide everything necessary to gain proficiency as an Objective-C programmer for both Mac OS X and iPhone development.

3. Which is best for C programming?

Eclipse. It is one of the most popular, powerful and useful IDEs used by developers for C/C++ programming. It is an open-source software which is simple and easy to use. Originally, it was used for Java Programming but now it is used for various languages.

Editor's Notes

During our c programming language book research, we found 1,200+ c programming language book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 17,215 customer reviews through our big data system to write the c programming language books list. We found that most customers choose c programming language books with an average price of $26.92.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.