Pointer in C - Tccicomputercoaching.com

Pointer in C

Tccicomputercoaching.com

Pointers in C are easy to learn. Some C programming tasks are performed more easily with pointers, and other tasks, such as dynamic memory allocation, cannot be performed without using pointers. So it becomes necessary to learn pointers to become a perfect C programmer.

Let's start learning them in simple and easy steps.

As you know, every variable is a memory location and every memory location has its address defined which can be accessed using ampersand (&) operator, which denotes an address in memory.

Consider the following example, which prints the address of the variables defined −

#include <stdio.h>

int main ()

int  var1;

char var2[10]

printf("Address of var1 variable: %x\n", &var1  );

printf("Address of var2 variable: %x\n", &var2  );

return 0;

Pointers are variables that hold address of another variable of same data type.

Pointers are one of the most distinct and exciting features of C language. It provides power and flexibility to the language. Although pointer may appear little confusing and complicated in the beginning.

Pointers are more efficient in handling Array and Structure.

Pointer allows references to function and thereby helps in passing of function as arguments to other function.

It reduces length and the program execution time.

It allows C to support dynamic memory management.

Null pointer:

A null pointer is a special pointer value that is known not to point anywhere. What this means that no other valid pointer, to any other variable or array cell or anything else, will ever compare equal to a null pointer.

Whenever a variable is declared, system will allocate a location to that variable in the memory, to hold value. This location will have its own address number.

Let us assume that system has allocated memory location 80F for a variable a.

int a = 10 ;

We can access the value 10 by either using the variable name a or the address 80F. Since the memory addresses are simply numbers they can be assigned to some other variable. The variable that holds memory address are called pointer variables. A pointer variable is therefore nothing but a variable that contains an address, which is a location of another variable. Value of pointer variable will be stored in another memory location.

Initialization of Pointer variable

Pointer Initialization is the process of assigning address of a variable to pointer variable. Pointer variable contains address of variable of same data type. In C language address operator & is used to determine the address of a variable. The  & (immediately preceding a variable name) returns the address of the variable associated with it.

int a = 10 ;

int *ptr ;        //pointer declaration

ptr = &a ;        //pointer initialization

Or,

int *ptr = &a ;      //initialization and declaration together

To Know More About C language Course, C language Course In Ahmedabad, Computer Course, Computer Class

If you like this post then please share and like this post.

Call us @ 98256 18292.