C

Pointer
 Pointer is a variable whose value is the address of another variable
 int a=123;
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a Name given to address
Figure 1: Storing a value using a variable in any memory address

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p a
Pointer
 Pointer is a variable whose value is the address of another variable
 &a means---address of the variable a
 Address operator: &
 Address operator operates on variable, array element
 &a (int a;)
 &a[5] (int a[10];)
 &a (int a[10];)
 &123
 &(a+b)
Pointer Declaration
 data_type *pointer_name;
 data_type* pointer_name;
 char *a; //pointer to a character
 int *a; // pointer to an integer [a will point to an integer type variable’s memory address]
 float *a; // pointer to a float
 double *a; // pointer to a double
 int * a;

 Difference between
int a;
int *a; //Assume it is a→
Assigning Value to Pointer
 It is necessary to explicitly mention whom a pointier variable is pointing
 pointer_name=&variable_name;
 p=&a;

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Assigning Value to Pointer
 Whose address is pointed by a pointer should be declared before the pointer
Assigning Value to Pointer
 Data types should not conflict
Using the Data of the Pointed Variable

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p a b

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p a b

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p a b

 De-referencing a pointer
Pointer Arithmetic

x=(p1)*(p2);
Pointer and Arrays
 Name of an array is the address of its first element (base address)
a[0] a[1] a[2] a[3] a[4]
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p=&a; p
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a[0] a[1] a[2] a[3] a[4]

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p
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a[0] a[1] a[2] a[3] a[4]

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p
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Pointer and Arrays
 a[i]; //a[2],a[3]
 *(a+i); //*(a+2),*(a+3)

 Why use pointers while using arrays?

Pointer and Arrays
a[0] a[1] a[2]
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p
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a[0] a[1] a[2] a[0] a[1] a[2] a[0] a[1] a[2] a[0] a[1] a[2]
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p p p p
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Pointer and Arrays

 Decrement operator could be used similarly

Pointer and 2D Arrays
Array of Pointers
a[0] a[1] a[2] a[3] a[4] p[0] p[1] p[2] p[3] p[4]
 int a[5];
 int *p[5]; 11 22 33 44 55 → → → → →

p[0] p[1] p[2] p[3] p[4]

 int *p[5],a; 31F0AB

 p[4]=&y; → → → → 31F0AB y
Pointer Casting
 (data_type*) pointer_name;
void Pointers
 No associated data type
 Can hold address of any type
 void *pointer_name;

 Casting is required for using a void pointer as the operand of any operator
 Generic pointer
NULL Pointers
 A pointer is usually assigned the address of another variable
 Besides, it can be assigned a NULL value
 A pointer who is assigned a NULL value is known as a NULL pointer
 data_type *pointer_name=NULL;
 int *p=NULL;
 char *p=NULL;
const Pointers
 const data_type *pointer_name=value;
 data_type* const pointer_name=value;
Pointer of Pointer

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Pointers and Functions
 Pointer as the parameter of a function
Pointers and Functions
 Pointer as the parameter of a function
Pointers and Functions
 Pointer as the parameter of a function
Pointers and Functions
 Pointer as the return value of a function
 data_type *function_name(parameter_list/argument_list)
{
:
return address;
}
 char *func(){}
 int *func(){}
 float *func(){}
 double *func(){}
Pointers and Functions
 Function pointer