Standard C library

The Standard C Library, often known as "libc" is the name of the collection of subprograms, functions and macros defined as part of the C programming language providing support services such as access to files, mathematical functions, and terminal input/output. (The actual C language does not, unlike many other programming languages, provide those facilities directly).

In most cases the library will rely on the operating system to perform most of the actual work, serving mostly as an intermediary to provide the standard API. Because of this, the standard C library is often viewed and distributed as part of the operating system, and refered to and used by programming languages other than C.

See also:

• glibc A common, open-source implementation of the standard C library.