Scribd
Upload
12 views13 pages

Unit-V Pointers

Uploaded by

Sarvesh S Deshpande
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
12 views13 pages

Unit-V Pointers

Uploaded by

Sarvesh S Deshpande
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

UNIT V

Pointers
Contents
Pointers:
Introduction to Pointers
Declaring pointer variables
Programs using pointers
Introduction to Pointers

• Some C programming tasks can be performed more


easily with pointers.
• Also, there are some tasks such as dynamic memory
allocation which can not be performed without using
pointers.
• In simple words, a pointer is an address.
• A pointer is used to hold or store the address of a
variable of any data type.
• It is a derived data type that stores a memory address.
Derived Data Types

Function Array Pointer Structure Union Enumerated


Type Type Type Type Type Type
• Every variable in C has a name and a value associated
with it.
• When a variable is declared, a specific block of memory
is allocated to hold the value of that variable.
• The size of the allocated block depends on the type of
the data.
• A pointer provides access to a variable by using address
of that variable.
int i=3 ;

i Location name

3 Value at location

65542 Location number or Address

Every variable in C has a value and a memory


location (address) associated with it.
//Printing a pointer
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int i=3;
printf("Address of i= %u\n", &i);
printf("Value of i= %d", i);
return 0;
}

Output:
Address of i= 6356748
Value of i= 3
• A pointer is a constant or variable that contains an
address that can be used to access data.
• Pointers have many uses in C.
They provide a very efficient method of accessing data.
They provide an efficient technique for manipulating data in
arrays.
They can be used in functions as pass-by-address parameters.
They are the basis for dynamic allocations of memory.
Some more facts about pointers
• We can have pointer variables that point to all types of
variables – int, float, char, double.
• A pointer can also be used to point to another pointer
variable.
• A pointer can be used to point to a function
(Function pointers) .
• Pointers provide a handy way to access arrays and
strings.
• Pointers enable a programmer to return multiple data
items from a function.
Declaring a Pointer

• Like variables, pointers have to be declared before they


are used.
• Pointer is a variable that stores the address of another
variable.
• A pointer variable is declared as follows.
data_type *ptr_name;

For ex. int *pnum; // pnum is a pointer that


points to an integer data
char *pchar;
float *pfnum;
//pointer variable
#include<stdio.h> Output:
int main()
{ 1.Address of i= 6356748
int i=3;
int *j; // j points to an integer 2.Address of i= 6356748
j=&i ; // & is address of operator
3.Address of j= 6356744
printf("\n1.Address of i= %u\n", &i);
printf("\n2.Address of i= %u\n\n", j);
printf("\n3.Address of j= %u\n\n",&j); 4.Value of i= 3
printf("\n4.Value of i= %d\n", i);
printf("\n5.Value of i= %d\n",*j); 5.Value of i= 3
//* stands for 'value at address
printf("\n6.Value of i= %d",*(&i)); 6.Value of i= 3
return 0;
}
// to calculate area of a circle using pointers
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
float rad,area;
Output:
float *ptrrad, *ptrarea;

ptrrad=&rad;
Enter the radius of the circle :2.0
ptrarea=&area;

printf("\n Enter the radius of the circle :");


The area of the circle is 12.56
scanf("%f", ptrrad);

*ptrarea= 3.14 * (*ptrrad) * (*ptrrad);

printf("\n\n The area of the circle is %.2f",


*ptrarea);

return 0;
}
Programs for practice

• Write a C program to add two integer numbers using


pointers.
• Write a C program to add two floating point numbers
using pointers.
• Write a C program to find sum and average of three
numbers. Access all the variables using pointers.
• Write a C program to find the largest of three numbers
using pointers.

You might also like