The **`ctime` function** returns a string containing the local time. It is based on the timer argument given to the function. 

# Library
The `ctime` function can be accessed via `time.h` library.
# Parameter
The parameter of the `ctime` function is a pointer to a `time_t` object. 

The **`time_t` datatype** is used to store system time values. It contains a calendar time value that is the pointer to which is given as a parameter to the function.
# Syntax
```c
char *ctime(const time_t *timer)
```
# Return value
The `ctime` function returns a string of readable text containing the date and time.
## Return value format
The return string has the format:
`Www Mmm dd hh:mm:ss yyyy` <be>

where: 

`Www`: Day of the week 
`Mmm`: Month of the year 
`dd`: Day of the month 
`hh`: Hour of the day 
`mm`: Minute of the hour 
`ss`: Second of the minute 
`yyyy`: Year 

# Code

#include <stdio.h>
#include <time.h> // this library contains ctime function

int main() {
 time_t current_time; // this variable stores current time state
 
 time(&current_time);

 printf("Time returned in the specified format is: %s", ctime(&current_time));
 return 0;
}

What is ctime in C?

Converts system time to a human-readable string displaying the local date and time.