Most Asked C Programming Viva Questions for Exams

Most Asked C Programming Viva Questions for BCA and B.Tech Students

If you have a C programming practical exam coming up, there’s a good chance you’ll also face a short viva session. And honestly, the viva is where many students get nervous — not because the questions are difficult, but because they’re asked suddenly.

The interesting thing is that most viva questions are actually very basic concepts from C programming. Teachers usually want to check whether students understand how the language works rather than whether they memorized code.

Below are some of the most frequently asked viva questions that appear in BCA, B.Tech, and other computer science practical exams.

Basic C Programming Viva Questions

Question	Short Answer
What is C programming language?	C is a structured programming language used for system and application programming.
Who developed C language?	Dennis Ritchie at Bell Laboratories.
What is a variable?	A variable is a named memory location used to store data.
What is a data type in C?	Data types define the type of data a variable can store (int, float, char, etc.).
What is printf() function?	It is used to display output on the screen.
What is scanf() function?	It is used to take input from the user.

Important Programming Concept Questions

What is the difference between compiler and interpreter?
What is the use of #include <stdio.h>?
What is the purpose of the main() function?
What are loops in C? Name different types.
What is the difference between while loop and do-while loop?
What are arrays in C?
What is a pointer?
What is the difference between call by value and call by reference?
What is recursion?
What is a structure in C?

Output-Based Viva Questions

Sometimes examiners also ask small output-based questions to test whether students understand how C programs execute.

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int a = 5;
    printf("%d", a++);
    return 0;
}

Answer: The output will be 5, because the post-increment operator prints the value first and then increases it.

Simple Tip for C Programming Viva

The most effective way to prepare for a programming viva is not by memorizing answers but by understanding how programs work.

Students who regularly practice writing programs — even small ones — usually find it much easier to answer viva questions confidently during practical exams.