Pointers, arrays and strings

Abstract

In this chapter we will be concerned with pointers, arrays and strings. If you have done any programming before beginning to study C, you will have already encountered and used arrays and strings. If you have arrived here via assembly language programming, you will already be familiar with the concept of pointers. If you have come to C by a different route and are uncertain about pointers then now’s your chance to find out! Pointers are one of the most important features of C and as such contribute to the flexibility and power for which the language is known. The concept of pointers is crucial to a clear understanding of the way arrays work, and strings are simply arrays of type char. It is for this reason that we have not so far concerned ourselves very much with strings. However, by the time you have worked through this chapter, you should be proficient in the basic uses of pointers, be able to use one-and two-dimensional arrays and be at home with strings.

“To me the most important part of a program is laying out the data structure.”

Dan Bricklin