Pointer with examples

Defn

A pointer in c is a special variable which can store the

memory address of other variable.
data type for pointer is same as data type of variable
whose address will be represented.
Syntax--<data type>*<ptr-name>;

Examples
(only pseudo code-for concept)

1.
int a=10;
int b;
b=a;
b=&a;

wrong----

So Weve-----

int *b;
b=&a;

variable doesnt hold address,so we need special

variable to hold address of variable called
pointer.

2.

Int a=10;
Int *p; p is a pointer which points an integer type
variable or,p is
pointer to an integer. * is indirection operator
P=&a;
p is pointing as value. Or, p stores address
of a
or,value stored at p=address of a.
& is address operator.
Note----a is direct addressing
*p is indirect addressing(*p=value at address stored at p)

10

100
0

*p

Indirect addressing works when only address is given,no

variable name given,so pointer used to access.
* Is polymorphic in c
i>multiplication operator
ii>indirection operator
*p means dereferencing pointer
P=&a means p referenced to a
Commonly pointer holds 2 byte(dos based ide) of
memory but 4 bytes (in windows,linux based ide).

3.
int a=10;
char *p;
p=&a;wrong

in c its warning(suspicious pointer conversion)

in c++ its error(cant convert int * to char *)
because data type of pointer is same as data type of
variablewhose address will be represented.so,we need to
typecast this as-----

4.
Int a=10;
Char *P;
P=(char*)&a;

Printf(%d,&p);

Although p changed in char type but still o/p is not

relevant,so not recommended to do so.
Thus always give data type of pointer as of variables
data typewhom it representing.

5.
Only address stored in pointer ,not values
Int a=10;
Int *p;
P=a;wrong(although true in c compiler considering

value as address)

Wild pointer concept

6.
Int a=10;
Int *p;
*p=a;(wrongsometm run time error)
1
0

605
8

6058 overwritten by 10(as value)

{if 6058 is free,otherwise code crash}

When pointer is dereferenced without any address as

above
ie. Int *p=a
it is called wild pointer,any there would be chance of
crashing code,so must supply some address
ie. Int *p=some address
or,
int *p=null;
or,int *p=\0;
so, to avoid run time error in above code,weve-----

7.
Int a=10;
Int *p=null;(0th address in memory is reserved in o/s as
null)
*p=a;//dereferencing
Note-although this is not 100% correct but safe almost.
So,dereference only when addressed while declaring..

Providing address to a value

8.

int *p;
p=(int *)7000; //a no. is made like address by
typecasting
but problem may occur if address 7000 is engaged
somewhere
becoz, by default a value cant be address.

9.
Int *p;
P=7000;

//run in c not in c++(a value is not address)

10.
Int *p;
P=&7000;

//this will never run/execute in c/c++

11.
Pointer never points itself
Int *p;

P=&p;(wrong)

12.
Int a=10;
Int *p;
Int *q;
p=&a;
q=&p;(wrong)

it can be corrected as--------Int a=10;

Int *p;
Int **q;(termed as pointer to pointer of q)
p=&a;
q=&p;(true now)

notepointer is backbone of c.
because of this c is still more popular.
Most of the work associated to virus/antivirus were performed
with the help of pointers.(advance c)