How to check balanced parentheses in C?

Checking if the parentheses are balanced or not is essential as it makes a lot of difference. A code with unbalanced parentheses will not work as intended and will cause syntax errors or other problems. So, a code must always balance parentheses. 

Moreover, knowing how to check balanced parentheses is also crucial to getting a job, as in tech job interviews, it can be asked, and the answer should not be that you'll check the balanced parentheses manually. You should know how to create a balanced parenthesis checker. 

What are parentheses in C?

Parentheses in C are small brackets that are used in codes for various purposes. These small brackets look like "()" where the first half "(" is called the opening bracket and the second half ")" is called the closing bracket. Here are some of the uses of parentheses in C. 

Function Calls

Parentheses are used in function calls where the parentheses are used to contain the element/s, and a function such as to add, remove, or replace is used. Fir example addNumber(3, 4). 

Order of Operations in Expressions

You must have learned about BODMAS in mathematics. A similar action can be created with parentheses. For example, there's an expression, i.e., Two adds to three and then multiplies to four. You can see that the operation of addition has to be done first. So, by enclosing the "2+3" in the parentheses, you can give priority to the addition. So, the expression will look like this: (2 + 3) * 4. 

Conditional Statements

Parentheses are also used to write conditional statements like if, else, if, while, for, etc. Here's an example: if (x > 0). 

What are balanced parentheses?

Now, let's focus on what balanced parentheses are. Bo in c basically refers to the right way of using the parentheses. In particular, if you are using an opening bracket in an expression or elsewhere, it must have a corresponding closing bracket in order to be balanced parentheses. 

Not only in C, but almost all the language requires balanced parentheses. Balanced parentheses are essential in function calls, mathematical expressions, and control flow to make them work properly. 

Here's an example of balanced parentheses: ((2+3) * 7). In this expression, the first opening bracket has its closing bracket after seven, and the second opening bracket has its corresponding closing bracket after 3. So, the pairing of the brackets is perfect, making it an example of balanced parentheses. 

On the other hand, this is what an example of unbalanced parentheses looks like (2+3) * (4-1)). Here, the second opening bracket has more than one closing bracket, which .yntax error or may cause the code to perform something unusual if the code pairs the opening bracket with the first closing bracket, the extra closing bracket will cause problems and similar will happen if it is paired with the last bracket. 

So, keeping the parentheses balanced in a code is essential. However you can't check the code manually for balanced parentheses if the code's length is very long. That's why there are algorithms to do that. Moreover, these algorithms are commonly used in coding interviews to test the efficiency of a candidate. So, let's learn how to write code to make a parenthesis checker in C. 

How to create a parenthesis checker program in C

Here is an example of a parenthesis checker program. 

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Input

Output

In the above code, the input is inserted into the stack. Moreover, the "areParenthesesBalanced" function iterates through the stack, encountering every element in the stack. So, when this function encounters an opening parenthesis, the parenthesis is pushed onto the stack with the helo if 'push' function. 

Moreover, if the 'areParenthesesBalanced' encounters a closing parenthesis, then the 'pop' function makes the parenthesis pop out. So, if the two pushed and popped elements matched, it means they are balanced parentheses. Otherwise, the parentheses are unbalanced. 

Is it good to do DSA with Python?

Yes, DSA with Python is a great choice. There are many other options, too, such as DSA with Java, C, and and C++. But DSA with Python is suitable for those who are new to programming. 

Firstly, DSA with Python is a lot easier to learn. The reason is that Python's syntax is very simple and makes it easy to learn. Since learning DSA requires the knowledge of the language you are learning DSA with, Python can be great for those who haven't learned any language yet. 

Moreover, the easier syntax of Python makes the editing of the code easy. The Python videos are highly readable. 

Another benefit of DSA using Python is that Python is an object-oriented programming language, so you can use many OOP features like inheritance, polymorphism, and many more. Also, the rapid prototyping of programs becomes possible when you choose DSA with Python. 

How to learn DSA with Python?

You can easily learn DSA using Python, as there are plenty of courses available online. "Basics of Python with data structures and algorithms" is one of the best courses to learn DSA with Python. Coding Ninjas, a renowned coding edtech, offers it. The course has over 60 hours of content where you will learn DSA using Python in-depth. 

Moreover, the course also has more than 350 DSA problems with varying difficulty. Solving these problems will make you ready for both the interview and the job. In addition, you also get some really amazing features like mock interview practice, cheat days, and learning at your own pace. 

Another amazing feature of the course is the 60-day course pause, which is designed and added for those who are currently in a job and may require a break in between learning. Last but not least, you can also get a chance to get placed at the companies of your mentors in the course through their referral. 

Final Words 

To sum up, this is how you can create a balanced parenthesis checker to check if the parentheses in the code are balanced or not. It is important to learn it as it not only can be asked in interviews but also get used in reallife a lot.