Pointers in C

Pre-requisite

Basics of the C programming

language

Data type
Variable
Array
Function call
Standard Input/Output

e.g. printf(), scanf()

2

Outline
Computer Memory Structure
Addressing Concept
Introduction to Pointer
Pointer Manipulation
Summary

Computer Memory
Revisited
Computers store data in memory
slots
Each slot has an unique address
Variables store their values like
this:
Add
Conten Add Content Add Conten Add Conten

1000 i: 37

1001 j: 46

1002 k: 58

1003 m: 74

1004 a[0]: a

1005 a[1]: b

1006 a[2]: c

1007 a[3]:
\0

1008 ptr:
1001

1009

1010

1011

Computer Memory
Revisited

Altering the value of a variable is

indeed changing the content of the
memory

Add
r

e.g. i = 40; a[2] = z;

Conten Add
t
r

Content

Add
r

Conten
t

Add
r

Conten
t

1000 i: 40

1001 j: 46

1002 k: 58

1003 m: 74

1004 a[0]: a

1005 a[1]: b

1006 a[2]: z

1007 a[3]:
\0

1008 ptr:
1001

1009

1010

1011

Addressing Concept
Pointer stores the address of
another entity
It refers to a memory location

int i = 5;
int *ptr;

/* declare a pointer variable */

ptr = &i;

/* store address-of i to ptr */

printf(*ptr = %d\n, *ptr);

/* refer to referee of ptr */

Why do we need Pointer?

Simply because its there!
It is used in some circumstances in
C

Remember this?
scanf(%d, &i);

What actually ptr is?

ptr is a variable storing an
address
ptr is NOT storing the actual value
ptr
address of i
int i = 5;
of
i
int *ptr;

ptr = &i;
printf(i = %d\n, i);

Output:

printf(*ptr = %d\n, *ptr);

i = 5

printf(ptr = %p\n, ptr);

*ptr = 5
ptr = effff5e0

5
value of ptr =
address of i
in memory
8

Twin Operators

&: Address-of operator

Get the address of an entity

Add
r

e.g. ptr = &j;

Conten Add
t
r

Content

Add
r

Conten
t

Add
r

Conten
t

1000 i: 40

1001 j: 33

1002 k: 58

1003 m: 74

1004 ptr:
1001

1005

1006

1007

Twin Operators

*: De-reference operator

Refer to the content of the referee

Add
r

e.g. *ptr = 99;

Conten Add
t
r

Content

Add
r

Conten
t

Add
r

Conten
t

1000 i: 40

1001 j: 99

1002 k: 58

1003 m: 74

1004 ptr:
1001

1005

1006

1007

10

Pointer Arithmetic
Whats ptr ++?
Ptr is incremented by size of its data type
Whats ptr --?
Ptr is decremented by size of its data type
Whats ptr + 2 and ptr 2?
The content of ptr will get incremented by
product of integer value and size of int
type.

11

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

?
12

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

address of
a[2]

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

13

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

3.14

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

address of
a[2]

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

3.14

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

14

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

3.14

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

address of
a[3]

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

15

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

3.14

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

9.0

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

address of
a[3]

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

9.0

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

16

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

3.14

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

9.0

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

address of
a[0]

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

17

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

6.0

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

3.14

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

9.0

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

address of
a[0]

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

6.0

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

18

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

6.0

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

3.14

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

9.0

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

address of
a[2]

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

3.14

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

19

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];
float *ptr;
ptr = &(a[2]);
*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;

Data Table
Name

Type

Description

a[0]

float

float array element

(variable)

6.0

a[1]

float

float array element

(variable)

a[2]

float

float array element

(variable)

7.0

a[3]

float

float array element

(variable)

9.0

ptr

float
*

float pointer variable

address of
a[2]

*ptr

float

de-reference of float
pointer variable

7.0

*ptr = 9.0;
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0;
ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Value

20

Pointer Arithmetic and

Array
float a[4];

float *ptr;

ptr = &(a[2]);

ptr = &(a[2])
ptr = &(*(a + 2))
ptr = a + 2

*ptr = 3.14;
ptr++;
*ptr = 9.0;

ptr = ptr - 3;

*ptr = 6.0;

ptr += 2;
*ptr = 7.0;

Type of a is float *
a[2] *(a + 2)

a is a memory address constant

ptr is a pointer variable
A+I gives address of ith element in
array
*(A+I) is the element stored in ith
location of array
21

Pointers and Functions

22

Example 1: Pass by value

and Reference

Modify behaviour in argument

passing
void f(int j)

void f(int *ptr)

{
j = 5;

*ptr = 5;

void main()

void main()

int i = 3;

int i = 3;

f(i);

f(&i);

i = 3?

i = 5?

23

Example 2: Returning a
pointer from a function
Syntax
Data type
*function_name(arguments);
int *sum(int , int );

24

int *sum(int , int );

Void main(){
Int a,b,*s;
Printf(enter two numbers);
Scanf(%d %d,&a,&b);
Printf(a=%d b=%d,a,b);
S=sum(a,b);
Printf(s=%d,*s);}

25

int *sum(int a, int b)

{
output
int s;
Enter two numbers
s=a+b;
4 5
return(&s);
a=4 b=5 s=9
}

26

Example 2:Pointer to
functions
data type (*variable name)
(argument types);
int (*fnp) (int,int);
int sum(int,int);
fnp=sum;(fnp now points to
function sum)

27

int sum(int,int);
Main(){
int a,b,s,(*fnp)(int,int);
Printf(enter two nos.);
Scanf(%d%d,&a,&b);
Printf(a=%d b=%d,a,b) ;
fnp=sum;

28

S= (*fnp) (a,b);
Printf(sum=%d,s);}
int sum(int a, int b)
{
output
int s;
Enter two numbers
s=a+b;
4 6
return s;
a=4 b=6 sum=10
}

29

An Illustration(pointers to
pointers)
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

10

**pptr = 7;

Description

Value

*pptr = &i;
*ptr = -2;

30

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;

/* declare a pointer-to-integer variable */

int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

10

*pptr = &i;

ptr

**pptr = 7;

Description

Value

int * integer pointer variable

*ptr = -2;

31

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;

/* declare a pointer-to-pointer-to-integer variable */

ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

10

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

**pptr = 7;

Description

Value

int * integer pointer variable

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable
Double

32

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;

/* store address-of i to ptr */

pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

10

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable

*ptr

int

de-reference of ptr

**pptr = 7;

Description

int * integer pointer variable

Value

address of i

33

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr; /* store address-of ptr to pptr */

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

10

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

**pptr = 7;

*pptr

Description

int * integer pointer variable

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable

int * de-reference of pptr

Value

address of i
address of
ptr
value of ptr

34

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

10

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable

*ptr

int

de-reference of ptr

**pptr = 7;

Description

int * integer pointer variable

Value

address of i
address of
ptr
3

35

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

10

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable

**pptr

int

de-reference of dereference of pptr

**pptr = 7;

Description

int * integer pointer variable

Value

address of i
address of
ptr
7

36

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

10

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable

*ptr

int

de-reference of ptr

**pptr = 7;

Description

int * integer pointer variable

Value

address of j
address of
ptr
10

37

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable

**pptr

int

de-reference of dereference of pptr

**pptr = 7;

Description

int * integer pointer variable

Value

address of j
address of
ptr
9

38

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

**pptr = 7;

*pptr

Description

int * integer pointer variable

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable

int * de-reference of pptr

Value

address of i
address of
ptr
value of ptr

39

An Illustration
int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;

Data Table

*ptr = 3;

Name

Type

ptr = &j;

int

integer variable

-2

**pptr = 9;

int

integer variable

*pptr = &i;

ptr

*ptr = -2;

pptr

int
**

integer pointer pointer

variable

*ptr

int

de-reference of ptr

**pptr = 7;

Description

int * integer pointer variable

Value

address of i
address of
ptr
-2

40

Advice and Precaution

Pros

Efficiency
Convenience

Cons

Error-prone
Difficult to debug

41

Summary
A pointer stores the address
(memory location) of another entity
Address-of operator (&) gets the
address of an entity
De-reference operator (*) makes a
reference to the referee of a pointer
Pointer and array
Pointer arithmetic

42