C is a general-purpose, high-level programming language that is widely used for developing system software, application software, and embedded software. It was developed in the early 1970s by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, and is known for its efficiency, flexibility, and portability. C has a syntax that is relatively simple and concise, and it provides low-level access to computer memory and hardware resources, making it popular for developing operating systems and other system-level software.