Mini Projects in C

Why Build Mini Projects?

• Improves hands-on programming skills
• Builds logic for larger software development
• Enhances understanding of data structures & file handling
• Helps in interviews and portfolio development
• Useful for academic submissions and practice

Core Concepts Used in Projects

• Loops and conditions
• Functions & modular programming
• Pointers & dynamic memory
• Structures & unions
• Arrays and strings
• File read/write operations
• Linked lists, stacks, queues (for advanced projects)

Top Mini Projects in C

1. Simple Calculator – Basic arithmetic operations
2. Student Record Management System – Store/search/update student info
3. Library Management System – Issue/return books using structures & files
4. Employee Payroll System – Salary calculation with file storage
5. Banking System – Deposit, withdraw, transaction history
6. Contact Management System – Add, delete, update contacts
7. Quiz Application – Multiple-choice quiz with scoring
8. Number Guessing Game – Random number logic with loops
9. Tic-Tac-Toe Game – 2-player board game using arrays
10. File Encryption/Decryption Tool – XOR-based encryption

Project Flow (How to Build Any Project)

• Define the problem
• Create structure of data
• Break into modules → Add, view, update, delete
• Use functions → Modular approach
• Store data using files or linked lists
• Test each module separately
• Combine and finalize

Mini Project Example – Student Record System

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

struct Student {
    int roll;
    char name[50];
    float marks;
};

int main() {

    struct Student s;

    printf("Enter Roll: ");
    scanf("%d", &s.roll);

    printf("Enter Name: ");
    scanf("%s", s.name);

    printf("Enter Marks: ");
    scanf("%f", &s.marks);

    printf("\n--- Student Details ---\n");
    printf("Roll: %d\n", s.roll);
    printf("Name: %s\n", s.name);
    printf("Marks: %.2f\n", s.marks);

    return 0;
}

Mini Project Example – Simple Calculator

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    char op;
    float a, b;

    printf("Enter operator (+, -, *, /): ");
    scanf(" %c", &op);

    printf("Enter two numbers: ");
    scanf("%f %f", &a, &b);

    switch(op){
        case '+': printf("%.2f", a+b); break;
        case '-': printf("%.2f", a-b); break;
        case '*': printf("%.2f", a*b); break;
        case '/': printf("%.2f", a/b); break;
        default: printf("Invalid operator");
    }

    return 0;
}

Practice Questions

1. Explain the steps to build a mini project.
2. Why is file handling important in C projects?
3. List five real-world project ideas using structures.
4. What is modular programming and how is it used in projects?
5. Create a project structure for a Library Management System.

Practice Task