Library Management System in C

In this article, you will learn about the Library Management System in C. This is a project demonstrating the storage of data related to books. You will also learn its usage and applications in detail.

What is Library Management System, and why should we use it?

The concept of storing or recording the details of books embedded within the user's system is known as Library Management System. It details the type of books, the list of books, etc. Only a person with the login credentials can access the Library Management System. That person can perform many operations like adding the book details, removing the book details, displaying the book details, modifying the book details, etc.

We must use the Library Management System in order to have secured storage of book details contained within the Library ( probably ). This feature is generally enabled in order to protect the data, which is highly confidential. This is one of the simplest Management systems built within the system using the C programming language.

The Library Management System overviews the concept of storing and generating all the data or records of the book contained within the library. This can be known as a general database which stores the data of the book details. It helps in searching the details by reducing time consumption. Not only protects the details of the books in the library but also saves all the data up to date without missing any. This is the major benefit of the Library Management System.

Let us construct a C program to perform the operations such as " Adding the book details ", " Displaying the book details ", and " Finding the total number of books in the library ".

A program that demonstrates the project of Library Management System in C language:

// block 1
// to import standard input and output
#include <stdio.h>
// to import clear statements, etc. ( if any )
#include <conio.h>
// to import standard libraries
#include <stdlib.h>
// to import strings and use strings
#include <string.h>


// block 2

// declare all variables which store their respective 
// data using structure ' library '
struct library
{
    // to store the name of the book
    char book_name[100];
    // to store the name of the author of the book
    char author_name[100];
    // to store the cost of the book
    float cost;
    // to store the number of pages of the book
    int no_of_pages;
};


// block 3

// main function
int main()
{
    // using the strut library again.'
    // in order to perform operations
    struct library lib[100];
    char book_name[100];
    int i, j, count;
    i = 0;
    j = 0;
    count = 0;


    // block 3.1

    while(j!=6)
    {
        printf(" \n\n1. Add Book details\n ");
        printf(" 2. Display the list of books and its details\n ");
        printf(" 3. Display the total no. of books in the library\n ");
        printf(" 4. Exit\n\n");
        printf(" Enter the number: ");
        scanf(" %d", &j);


	   // block 3.1.1

        switch(j)
        {
            // in order to add the book details
            case 1:
                printf(" \nYou can add the details of the book ");
                printf(" \nEnter the book name: ");
                scanf(" %s", lib[i].book_name);
                printf(" \nEnter the author name: ");
                scanf(" %s", lib[i].author_name);
                printf(" \nEnter the number of pages: ");
                scanf(" %d", &lib[i].no_of_pages);
                printf(" \nEnter the cost of the book: ");
                scanf(" %f", &lib[i].cost);
                count = count + 1;
                i = i + 1;
                break;

            case 2:
                // if there are no books registered previously
                if (count==0)
                {
                    printf(" \nThere are no books stored!!\n\n ");
                }
                else
                {
                    // to view the list of the books
                    printf(" \nYou can view the list of books ");
                    printf(" \nThe list of books are: ");
                    for(i=0; i < count; i++)
                    {
                        printf(" \nThe name of the book is: %s ", lib[i].book_name);
                        printf(" \nThe name of the author is: %s ", lib[i].author_name);
                        printf(" \nThe number of pages are: %d ", lib[i].no_of_pages);
                        printf(" \nThe cost of the book is: %f\n\n ", lib[i].cost);
                    }
                }
                break;

            case 3:
                // to view the total number of books
                printf(" \nTotal number of books in the library are: %d\n\n ", count);
                break;
            
            case 4:
                // to exit from the program
                exit(0);
                
            default:
                // if any number other than 1, 2, 3, 4 is entered 
                printf(" \nInvalid number entered\n\n ");
        }

    }

}

An explanation for the program:

As we have classified the entire program into 5 blocks, let us discuss each block one by one.

Block 1:

// to import standard input and output
#include <stdio.h>
// to import clear statements, etc. ( if any )
#include <conio.h>
// to import standard libraries
#include <stdlib.h>
// to import strings and use strings
#include <string.h>

In this block, we have included or imported all the pre-processors that are necessary for the program, which tells the C compiler to perform specific operations before compiling accordingly. This step, i.e., " Pre-processors ", is one of the main steps in the " Structure of C program ". Without using specific pre-processors, we cannot perform any required task within the program.

Block 2:

// declare all variables which store their respective 
// data using structure ' library '
struct library
{
    // to store the name of the book
    char book_name[100];
    // to store the name of the author of the book
    char author_name[100];
    // to store the cost of the book
    float cost;
    // to store the number of pages of the book
    int no_of_pages;
};

This block deals with the structure " library ", which involves the mandatory variables. Generally, the Structures in C language are used to group several variables within a single place. These variables are declared and initiated within this block in order to use those whenever needed throughout the program. In the same way, the structure " library " is also used in this program. It is used in order to declare the variables like " book_name ", " author_name ", " cost ", and " no_of_pages ", which possess different data types.

Block 3:

// main function
int main()
{
    // using the strut library again.'
    // in order to perform operations
    struct library lib[100];
    char book_name[100];
    int i, j, count;
    i = 0;
    j = 0;
    count = 0;


    // block 3.1

    while(j!=6)
    {
        // statements regarding the choice

	   
   // block 3.1.1

        switch(j)
        {
            // switch cases depending on the option chosen
        }

    }

In this block, the main section is initiated. We have considered " int main " directly. In the main section, we reconsidered the structure " library " that has been declared previously in order to access its members. The name of the book using a variable " book_name " can be declared again to have a specific nature and difference between the one declared in the structure, and the other declared in the main section.

The variables like " book_name ", " i ", " j " and " count " are declared in which the variable " book_name " defines the name of the book entered, " i " and " j " defines the use for iteration, and " count " defines the number of books present in the library. After declaring the required variables according to their data types, we considered a while loop and a switch case. Let us discuss everything about while loop and switch cases in the upcoming statements.

Block 3.1:

while(j!=6)
{
        printf(" \n\n1. Add Book details\n ");
        printf(" 2. Display the list of books and its details\n ");
        printf(" 3. Display the total no. of books in the library\n ");
        printf(" 4. Exit\n\n");
        printf(" Enter the number: ");
        scanf(" %d", &j);

	   // block 3.1.1
        switch(j)
        {
            // switch cases depending on the option chosen
        }

}

In this block, the iteration is implemented using a while loop. We need to initiate the iteration in order to have multiple inputs and give out their corresponding outputs. In other words, we can say that we use a while loop for iterating many times when we want to give input many times, one after another, so that all the information of the books present in the library can be somehow known.

A variable " j ", which is initiated as 0, is considered, and a base condition " j ! = 6 " is given. In the while loop, the condition " j ! = 6 " ensures that the serial number or the choice among the statements " Add Book details ", " Display the list of books and its details ", " Display the total no. of books in the library " and " Exit " is not exceeded. When a number 5 is given, then it is considered to be the default and then quits the loop, which further prints the " Invalid Input " statement.

There is a " switch case " introduced, which compares the scanned value of j previously and then checks the case according to the number scanned. Let us discuss everything about the switch case block in the upcoming statements.

Block 3.1.1:

   switch(j)
        {
            // in order to add the book details
            case 1:
                printf(" \nYou can add the details of the book ");
                printf(" \nEnter the book name: ");
                scanf(" %s", lib[i].book_name);
                printf(" \nEnter the author name: ");
                scanf(" %s", lib[i].author_name);
                printf(" \nEnter the number of pages: ");
                scanf(" %d", &lib[i].no_of_pages);
                printf(" \nEnter the cost of the book: ");
                scanf(" %f", &lib[i].cost);
                count = count + 1;
                i = i + 1;
                break;

            case 2:
                // if there are no books registered previously
                if (count==0)
                {
                    printf(" \nThere are no books stored!!\n\n ");
                }
                else
                {
                    // to view the list of the books
                    printf(" \nYou can view the list of books ");
                    printf(" \nThe list of books are: ");
                    for(i=0; i < count; i++)
                    {
                        printf(" \nThe name of the book is: %s ", lib[i].book_name);
                        printf(" \nThe name of the author is: %s ", lib[i].author_name);
                        printf(" \nThe number of pages are: %d ", lib[i].no_of_pages);
                        printf(" \nThe cost of the book is: %f\n\n ", lib[i].cost);
                    }
                }
                break;

            case 3:
                // to view the total number of books
                printf(" \nTotal number of books in the library are: %d\n\n ", count);
                break;
            
            case 4:
                // to exit from the program
                exit(0);
                
            default:
                // if any number other than 1, 2, 3, 4 is entered 
                printf(" \nInvalid number entered\n\n ");
        }

In this block of code, every case is considered, and its corresponding output is given accordingly. For example, if the number entered is 2 out of 1, 2, 3, 4, the output of the list of books will be given as the serial number 2 denotes the " display the list of books in the library " statement. In the same way, when the input number is given as 1, it takes the information of the new book as the serial number 1 denotes " Add book details ". When a default number, i.e., a number which is not 1, 2, 3, or 4, is entered, it returns the default case and then prints " Invalid number entered " as there is no statement confession to the respective numbers other than 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Input and output for the above program:

1. Add Book details
2. Display the list of books and its details
3. Display the total no. of books in the library
4. Exit

Enter the number: 1

You can add the details of the book  
Enter the book name: Nikki's_life
 
Enter the author name: Nikhitha
 
Enter the number of pages: 306
 
Enter the cost of the book: 500.00

1. Add Book details
2. Display the list of books and its details
3. Display the total no. of books in the library
4. Exit

Enter the number: 1
 
You can add the details of the book
Enter the book name: Nikki_schooling
 
Enter the author name: Nikhitha
 
Enter the number of pages: 490
 
Enter the cost of the book: 1000

1. Add Book details
2. Display the list of books and its details
3. Display the total no. of books in the library
4. Exit

Enter the number: 1
 
You can add the details of the book
Enter the book name: Sathwik_journey
 
Enter the author name: Sathwik
 
Enter the number of pages: 1048
 
Enter the cost of the book: 2500

1. Add Book details
2. Display the list of books and its details
3. Display the total no. of books in the library
4. Exit

Enter the number: 2
 
You can view the list of books
The list of books are:
The name of the book is: Nikki's_life
The name of the author is: Nikhitha
The number of pages are: 306
The cost of the book is: 500.000000

The name of the book is: Nikki_schooling
The name of the author is: Nikhitha  
The number of pages are: 490
The cost of the book is: 1000.000000

The name of the book is: Sathwik_journey
The name of the author is: Sathwik
The number of pages are: 1048
The cost of the book is: 2500.000000

In this way, the program of the Library Management System is designed using simple blocks of code. This is one of the best ways to store the data (mainly the data related to books in the library).

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