Pointer in c

POINTER IN C
PRESENTED BY
M.LAVANYA
M.Sc[CS&IT]
NSCAS

POINTER
Pointer is a variable that stores the address of another
variable. A pointer in c is used to allocate memory
dynamically at run time. The pointer variable might be
belonging to any of the data type such as int, float, char,
double, short etc.
Pointer syntax:
data_type*var_name;
Example:
int*p; char*p;

DECLARING POINTER VARIABLE
Pointers variables contain addresses that belong to a separate data
type, they must be declared as pointers before we use them. The
declaration of a pointer variable takes the following form
data_type * pt_name;

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 address operator & is used to determined the
address of a variable. The & returns the address of the variable.
EXAMPLE:
int a=10;
int*ptr; //pointer declaration
ptr=&a; //pointer initialization
or
int*ptr=&a; //initialization and declaration together

EXAMPLE PROGRAM
#include <stdio.h>
int main() output:
{ 50
int *ptr, q; //declaration
q = 50;
ptr = &q; //intialization
printf("%d", *ptr); //display q's value using ptr variable
printf("%d", *ptr);
return 0;
}

CHAIN OF POINTER
• It is possible to make a pointer to point to another pointer, thus
creating a chain of pointers.

POINTER EXPRESSIONS
The pointer variable can be used in expressions. (eg) p1 and p2 are
properly declared and initialized pointer, then the following
statements are valid.
y = * p1 * *p2;
sum = sum + * p1;
* p2 = * p2 + 10;
SYNTAX:
data_typa*ptr=expression

RULES OF POINTER OPERATIONS
• A pointer variable can be assigned the address of another
variable.
• A pointer variable can be assigned the values of another
pointer variable.
• A pointer variable can be initialized with NULL or zero
value.
• A pointer variable can be pre-fixed or post-fixed with
increment or decrement operators.
• An integer value may be added or subtracted from a pointer
variable.

ARRAY OF POINTER
#include <stdio.h>
const int MAX = 3;
int main ()
{ Output:
int var[] = {10, 100, 200}; Value of var[0] = 10
int i, *ptr[MAX]; Value of var[1] = 100
for ( i = 0; i < MAX; i++) Value of var[2] = 200
{
ptr[i] = &var[i]; /* assign the address of integer. */
}
for ( i = 0; i < MAX; i++)
{
printf("Value of var[%d] = %dn", i, *ptr[i] );
}
return 0;
}

POINTER AS FUNCTION ARGUMENTS
When we pass addresses to a function, the parameters receiving the
addresses should be pointers. The process of calling a function using
pointers to pass the addresses of variables is known as ’call by reference’
.
for example:
main()
{
int *x;
*x=20;
change(&x); //call by reference or address
printf(“%dn”,x);
}
change(int *p)
{
*p = *p + 10;
}

EXAMPLE PROGRAM
#include <stdio.h>
Void exchange(int *, int*); //prototype
Value of a is 10 Output:
main() Before exchange: x=100 y=200
{ After exchange : x = 200 y = 100
int x,y;
X=100;
Y=200;
Printf(“Before exchange:x=%d y=%d”,x,y);
exchange(&x,&y); //call
Printf(“After exchange:x=%d y=%d”,x,y);
}
Exchange(int*a,int*b)
{
int t;
t=*a; //assign the value at address a to t
*a=*b;
*b=t;
return 0;
}

POINTER AND STRUCTURE
• Address of Pointer variable can be obtained using ‘&’ operator.
• Address of such Structure can be assigned to the Pointer variable .
• Pointer Variable which stores the address of Structure must be
declared as Pointer to Structure .
Pointer to Structure Syntax :
struct student_database
{
char name[10];
int roll;
int marks;
}stud1;
struct student_database *ptr;
ptr = &stud1;

EXAMPLE PROGRAM
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
struct my_structure Output
{ NAME : Raji
char name[20]; NUMBER: 35
int number; RANK: 1
int rank;
};
struct my_structure variable = {“Raji",35,1};
struct my_structure *ptr;
ptr = &variable;
printf("NAME: %sn",ptr->name);
printf("NUMBER: %dn",ptr->number);
printf("RANK: %d",ptr->rank);
return 0;
}

Pointer in c

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