C is a powerful, general-purpose programming language that was developed in the early 1970s by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs. It is known for its efficiency and control, providing low-level access to memory and system resources. C is widely used for system programming, including operating systems, embedded systems, and high-performance applications. Its syntax and structure have influenced many other languages, including C++, Java, and Python. With its portability across various platforms and robust standard library, C remains a fundamental language for both academic study and practical application in software development.