How to use breakpoints for debugging in C language?

In the C language, breakpoint debugging is a common method used by programmers to pause the execution of a program during runtime, observe the program’s state and variable values, and help identify errors or issues within the program.

In C language, the general steps for using breakpoints in debugging are as follows:

1. Insert breakpoints at the places where breakpoints are needed: you can set a breakpoint in front of a specific line or statement in the code, indicating that the program’s execution will pause when reaching that line or statement.
2. When compiling a program, include debug information: When using the GCC compiler, you can add debug information to the executable file by using the “-g” option. For example: gcc -g test.c -o test.
3. Run the program and enter debugging mode: You can use a debugging tool (like GDB) to run the program and enter debugging mode. For example: gdb test.
4. Execute the program and trigger a breakpoint: In debug mode, use the “run” command to execute the program, and it will pause execution at the set breakpoint.
5. Viewing program status and variable values: After pausing execution at a breakpoint, you can use a series of debugging commands to check the program’s status and the values of variables, such as the “print” command for printing variable values, the “display” command for continuously printing a variable’s value, and the “step” command for stepping through the program.
6. To resume the program: After checking the program status and variable values, you can use the “continue” command to resume the program until the next breakpoint or until the program ends.

By following these steps, you can use breakpoints in C language to locate errors or issues in the program, and make necessary debugging and fixes. Debugging tools like GDB also offer additional debugging features such as conditional breakpoints, watchpoints, backtraces, etc., which can make debugging more flexible and efficient.