Department of Computer Science & Engineering

IOT

DATA STRUCTURES

MODULE-1: POINTERS

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Pointers

▶ POINTERS – DEFINITION – INITIALIZATION

▶ DIFFERENT WAYS OF ASSIGNING POINTERS

▶ POINTER ARITHMETIC

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 COMPUTER MEMORY REVISITED
▶ Computers store data in memory slots
▶ Each slot has an unique address
▶ Variables store their values like this:
Addr Content Addr Content Addr Content Addr Content
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

▶ Altering the value of a variable is indeed changing the content of

the
memory
Addr▶ e.g. i = 40; a[2] Addr
Content = ‘z’; Content Addr Content Addr Content
1000 i: 40 1001 j: 46 1002 k: 58 1003 m: 74 3

1004 a[0]: ‘a’ 1005 a[1]: ‘b’ 1006 a[2]: ‘z’ 1007 a[3]: ‘\0’
1008 ptr: 1001 1009 … 1010 1011
 Pointers
▶ Pointer is a variable which holds the address of another variable of same
data type.
▶ It refers to a memory location

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 Why do we need Pointers ?
▶ It is used in some circumstances in
C.
Remember this?
scanf(“%d”, &i);
Why actually ptr is?
▶ ptr is a variable storing an address
▶ ptr is NOT storing the actual value of
ptr address of i
i
int i = 5;
int *ptr;
i 5
ptr = &i;
Output:
printf(“i = %d\n”, i);
i = 5 value of ptr5 =
printf(“*ptr = %d\n”, *ptr);
*ptr = 5 address of i
printf(“ptr = %p\n”, ptr); in memory
ptr = effff5e0
Benefits of using Pointers
▶ Pointers are more efficient in handling Arrays and Structures.

▶ Pointers allow references to function and thereby helps in passing of

function as arguments to other functions.

▶ It reduces length of the program and its execution time as well.

▶ It allows C language to support Dynamic Memory management.

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Declaration of pointer variable
▶ General syntax:

datatype *pointer_name;

▶ Pointer works with all data types:

int *ip; //pointer to integer variable

float *fp; //pointer to float variable
double*dp; //pointer to double variable
char *cp; //pointer to char variable

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Initialization of pointer variable
▶ Pointer Initialization is the process of assigning address of
a variable to a pointer variable.

▶ Example:

#include <stdio.h>

void main( )
{
int a = 10;
int *ptr; //Pointer declaration
ptr = &a; // Pointer
} initialization
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Initialization of pointer variable

▶ Example:

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 */

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Null pointer
▶ If you are not sure about which variable's address to
assign to a pointer variable while declaration, it is
recommended to assign a NULL value to your pointer
variable. A pointer which is assigned a NULL value is
called a NULL pointer.

▶ Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main( )
{
int *ptr = NULL;
return 0;
} 10
Pointers - Example program
#include <stdio.h>

void main()
{
int a = 10;
int *p; //Pointer declaration
p = &a; // Pointer initialization

printf("p = %d\n", p); // prints the address of 'a'

printf("&p = %d\n", &p); // prints the address of 'p'
printf("*p = %d\n", *p); // prints value of that address
printf("*&p = %d\n", *&p); // prints value of that address
printf("a = %d\n", a); // prints value of a
printf("&a = %d\n", &a); // prints address of a
return 0;
} 11
Points to remember while using pointers
▶ While declaring/initializing the pointer variable, indicates that the
*
variable is a pointer.

▶ The address of any variable is given by preceding the variable name

with symbol Ampersand ’&’.

▶ The pointer variable stores the address of a variable. The

declaration int *a doesn't mean that ’a’ is going to contain an integer
value. It means that a is going to contain the address of a variable
storing integer value.

▶ To access the value of a by a pointer

certain address stored variable, * is used. Here, the *
can be read as 'value at‘.

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Different Ways of assigning Pointers
(a) Pointer to Pointer (Double pointer)
(b) Pointer to Array
(c) Pointer to Functions

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(a) Pointer to pointer (double pointer)
▶ When one pointer variable stores the address of another pointer
variable, it is known as Pointer to Pointer variable or Double Pointer.

▶ Syntax:

Data_type **pointer_name;

int **p1;

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(a) Pointer to pointer (Example program)
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a = 10;
int *p1; //this can store the address of variable a
int **p2; // this can store the address of pointer variable p1 only.
p1 = &a;
p2 = &p1;
printf("Address of a = %d\n", &a);
printf("Address of p1 = %d\n", &p1);
printf("Address of p2 = %d\n\n",
&p2);
// below print statement will give the
address of 'a'
printf("Value at the address stored
by p2 = %d\n", *p2);
printf("Value at the address stored by p1 = %d\n\n", *p1); 15

printf("Value
return 0; of **p2 = %d\n", **p2); //read this *(*p2)

}
(b) Pointer to array
▶ We can use a pointer to point to an array, and then we can use that
pointer to access the array elements.

▶ Example:

int *p;
p = arr; (or) p = &arr[0]

▶ Assuming that the base address of arr is 1000 and each

integer requires two bytes, the five elements will be stored
as follows:

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(b) Pointer to array (Example program)
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
int i;
int a[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
int *p = a; // same as int*p =
&a[0]
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
printf("%d\t", *p);
p++;
}
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return 0;
}
(d) Pointer to functions
▶ Pointer as a function parameter is used to hold addresses of arguments
passed during function call. This is also known as call by reference.

▶ When a function is called by reference any change made to the reference

variable will effect the original variable.

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(d) Pointer to functions(Example program)
#include <stdio.h>
void swap(int *a, int *b);
int main()
{ int m = 10, n = 20;
printf("m = %d\n", m);
printf("n = %d\n\n", n);

swap(&m, &n); //passing address of m and n to the swap

function printf("After Swapping:\n\n");
printf("m = %d\n", m);

printf("n = %d", n);

return 0;
}
void swap(int *a, int
*b)
{

*a = *b; 19
int temp;
*b = temp;
temp = *a;
}
 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 5
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 10
*pptr = &i;
*ptr = -2;
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 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr; /* declare a pointer-to-integer variable */
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 5
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 10
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable
*ptr = -2;
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 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr; /* declare a pointer-to-pointer-to-integer variable */
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 5
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 10
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable
*ptr = -2; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable
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Double Indirection
 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i; /* store address-of i to ptr */
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 5
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 10
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable address of i
*ptr = -2; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable
*ptr int de-reference of ptr 23
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 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr =
&ptr; /*
store
address-of
ptr to pptr
*/
*ptr = 3;
**pptr = 7;
ptr = &j;
Introduction to Networking 24
**pptr = 9;

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*pptr = &i;
 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr =
&ptr; /*
store Data Table
address-of Name Type Description Value
ptr to pptr
*/ i int integer variable 5
*ptr = 3; j int integer variable 10
**pptr = 7; ptr int * integer pointer variable address of i
ptr = &j; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable address of ptr
**pptr = 9; *pptr int * de-reference of pptr 25
value of ptr
*pptr = &i; (address of i)
 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 3
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 10
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable address of i
*ptr = -2; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable address of ptr
*ptr int de-reference of ptr 26
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 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 7
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 10
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable address of i
*ptr = -2; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable address of ptr
**pptr int de-reference of de-referen c e of pptr
2 7
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 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 7
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 10
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable address of j
*ptr = -2; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable address of ptr
*ptr int de-reference of ptr 28
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 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 7
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 9
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable address of j
*ptr = -2; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable address of ptr
**pptr int de-reference of de-referen ce of pptr
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 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable 7
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 9
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable address of i
*ptr = -2; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable address of ptr
*pptr int * de-reference of pptr 30
value of ptr
(address of i)
 An Illustration

int i = 5, j = 10;
int *ptr;
int **pptr;
ptr = &i;
pptr = &ptr;
*ptr = 3; Data Table
**pptr = 7; Name Type Description Value
ptr = &j; i int integer variable -2
**pptr = 9; j int integer variable 9
*pptr = &i; ptr int * integer pointer variable address of i
*ptr = -2; pptr int ** integer pointer pointer variable address of ptr
*ptr int de-reference of ptr 31
-2
Pointer Arithmetic

▶ What’s ptr + 1?
 The next memory location!
▶ What’s ptr - 1?
 The previous memory location!
▶ What’s ptr * 2 and ptr /
2?
 Invalid operations!!!

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) ?
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) ?
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable ?

*ptr = 7.0;

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) ?
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) ?
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable address of a[2]

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable ?

*ptr = 7.0;

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) ?
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) 3.14
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable address of a[2]

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable 3.14

*ptr = 7.0;

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) ?
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) 3.14
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable address of a[3]

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable ?

*ptr = 7.0;

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) ?
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) 3.14
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) 9.0
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable address of a[3]

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable 9.0

*ptr = 7.0;

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) ?
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) 3.14
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) 9.0
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable address of a[0]

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable ?

*ptr = 7.0;

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) 6.0
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) 3.14
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) 9.0
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable address of a[0]

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable 6.0

*ptr = 7.0;

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) 6.0
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) 3.14
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) 9.0
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable address of a[2]

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable 3.14

*ptr = 7.0;

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 Pointer Arithmetic and Array

float a[4];
Data Table
float *ptr;
Name Type Description Value
ptr = &(a[2]);
a[0] float float array element (variable) 6.0
*ptr = 3.14;
a[1] float float array element (variable) ?
ptr++;
a[2] float float array element (variable) 7.0
*ptr = 9.0;
a[3] float float array element (variable) 9.0
ptr = ptr - 3;
*ptr = 6.0; ptr float * float pointer variable address of a[2]

ptr += 2; *ptr float de-reference of float pointer variable 7.0

*ptr = 7.0;

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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

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