The Arduino sketch is the program that runs on the microcontroller board and controls its behavior. Here’s an overview of the structure and syntax of an Arduino sketch:
1. Comments: Comments are used to add notes and explanations to the code. They start with two forward slashes (//) and continue until the end of the line. Comments are ignored by the compiler and have no effect on the program.
2. Setup function: The setup function is where you initialize any variables, set pin modes, and configure any necessary libraries. It is called once when the board is powered on or reset.
3. Loop function: The loop function is where you put the main program logic. It is called repeatedly after setup, until the board is powered off or reset.
4. Variables: Variables are used to store data and information in the sketch. They can be declared as global variables, which are available throughout the entire sketch, or local variables, which are only available within the function in which they are declared.
5. Functions: Functions are used to divide the program into smaller, more manageable parts. They can be used to perform specific tasks, such as reading a sensor or controlling a motor.
6. Conditional statements: Conditional statements are used to execute different parts of the program based on certain conditions. The most common conditional statements are if/else statements, which allow you to test a condition and execute different code depending on the result.
7. Loops: Loops are used to repeat a section of code a certain number of times or until a certain condition is met. The most common loops are for loops and while loops.
8. Libraries: Libraries are pre-written code that can be used in your sketch to perform specific tasks, such as controlling a servo or reading a temperature sensor. They can be included in the sketch using the #include directive.
9. Pin manipulation: Arduino boards have a range of digital and analog input/output pins that can be used to connect and control various components such as LEDs, motors, and sensors. The pinMode(), digitalWrite(), and analogWrite() functions are used to set the pin mode (input or output) and to write digital or analog values to the pins.
Overall, the structure and syntax of an Arduino sketch are similar to those of the C/C++ programming languages, with some additional functions and libraries specific to the Arduino platform. With a basic understanding of these elements, you can start writing your own Arduino sketches and creating your own projects.