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S23 - 1 - Pointers

The document provides an overview of pointers in programming, covering basic operations, their relationship with arrays and character strings, and pointer expressions. It explains how to perform assignments, relational operations, and arithmetic operations with pointers, along with examples. Additionally, it highlights invalid operations and includes a sample program demonstrating value exchange using pointers.

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colourfulabhi12
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14 views12 pages

S23 - 1 - Pointers

The document provides an overview of pointers in programming, covering basic operations, their relationship with arrays and character strings, and pointer expressions. It explains how to perform assignments, relational operations, and arithmetic operations with pointers, along with examples. Additionally, it highlights invalid operations and includes a sample program demonstrating value exchange using pointers.

Uploaded by

colourfulabhi12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pointers

* 1
Objectives
To learn and appreciate the following concepts

• Basic operations on pointers


• Pointers and Arrays
• Pointers and Character Strings
• Pointers and 2D
• Array of Pointers

* 2
Session outcome
At the end of session one will be able to understand

• Basic operations on pointers


• Pointers and Arrays

* 3
Pointers- recap
int Quantity; //defines variable Quantity of type int
int* p; //defines p as a pointer to int
p = &Quantity; //assigns address of variable Quantity to pointer p

Now…
Quantity = 50;//assigns 50 to Quantity
*p = 50; //assigns 50 to Quantity
* 4
Pointer expressions
• Pointers can be used in most valid C expressions. However, some special
rules apply.

• You may need to surround some parts of a pointer expression with


parentheses in order to ensure that the outcome is what you desire.

• As with any variable, a pointer may be used on the right side of an


assignment operator to assign its value to another pointer.

* 5
Pointer Expressions - Example
• Eg: int a=10, b=20,c,d=10;
int *p1 = &a, *p2 = &b;
Expression a b c
c= *p1**p2; OR *p1 * *p2 10 20 200
OR (*p1) * (*p2)
c= c + *p1; 10 20 210

c=5 * - *p2 / *p1; 10 20 -10


OR ( 5 * (- (*p2)))/(*p1)
//space between / and * is required
*p2 =*p2 +10; 10 30

* 6
Operations on Pointer Variables
• Assignment – the value of one pointer variable can be assigned to
another pointer variable of the same type
• Relational operations - two pointer variables of the same type can be
compared for equality, and so on
• Some limited arithmetic operations
• integer values can be added to and subtracted from a pointer variable
• value of one pointer variable can be subtracted from another pointer variable
• Shorthand Increment and Decrement Operators

* 7
Allowed Pointer Operations - Example
• int a = 10, b = 20, *p1, *p2, *p3, *p4; Assume an
integer
• p1 = &a; //assume address of a = 2004 occupies 4
bytes
• p2 = &b; //assume address of b = 1008
Pointer Operations Example expression Result
Addition of integers from p3 = p1 + 2 value of p3 = 2004 + 4*2 = 2012
pointers
Subtraction of integers from p4 = p2 – 2 value of p4 = 1008-4*2 = 1000
pointers
Subtraction of one pointer c = p3– p1 Value of c = 2012– 2004= 2
from another
Pointer Increment p1++ Value of p1 = 2008
Pointer Decrement --p1 Value of p1 = 2004

* 8
Allowed Pointer Operations - Example
if (p1<p2)
printf(“p1 points to lower memory than p2”);

if (p1==p2)
printf(“ p1 and p2 points to same location”);

if (p1!=p2)
printf(“ p1 and p2 NOT pointing to same location”);

* 9
Invalid Operations:
▪Pointers are not used in division and multiplication.
p1/*p2;
p1*p2;
p1/3; are not allowed.

▪Two pointers can not be added.


p1 + p2 is illegal.

* 10
Program to exchange two values
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{

int x, y, t, *a, *b;


a=&x; b=&y;
printf("Enter the values of a and b: \n");
scanf("%d %d", a, b); // equivalent to scanf(“%d %d”, &x, &y);
t=*a;
*a=*b;
*b=t;
Enter the values of a and b:
printf("x = %d \n", x); 10 5
printf("y = %d", y);
x= 5
return 0; y = 10
}
* 11
Summary of pointers
• Basic operations on pointers

* 12

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