How to control rules of netfilter using C language?

Hello all:

Now,I am study IPtables and netfilter.

I know how to set up rules using IPtables.But I wonder to send the rules to
netfilter using computing language,such as:C ,c++ or Perl and PHP.
Now,I do not know how to programm it.
Would you please recommend some samples or some resources?

Thanks in advance.Hope to read your reply soon.

My email: yangbobo@163.com