C provides direct access to memory through pointers and allows low-level manipulation of hardware resources, which is essential for writing efficient compilers that need to generate machine-level code. It provides constructs that map efficiently to machine instructions, making it suitable for developing system software like compilers. Many of the early and influential compilers, such as the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), were developed in C. This established a precedent and set C as the standard language for compiler development.