C Programming - Pointers - Discussion

Can anyone tell me pointer is a variable or operator?

Pointer is a specific type of variable that can be used to store the address of other variable. It is always denoted by '*' operator.

Some Features of pointer:

1. Pointer save the memory space.

2. Execution time with pointer is faster because data is manipulated with the address. i.e., direct access to memory location.

Pointer declaration:

Data type *pointer name;.

For example:

void main()
int a=100;
int *p;
p=&a;

In above example 'a' is the integer type of variable and 100 ia the value of that variable. *p is the pointer name. Suppose 4066 is the address of variable 'a'.

In above example p=&a;-in this code pointer p can be use to store the address of variable 'a', means the value of pointer p is 4066 (that is the address of variable 'a').

It stores the address of the variable how?

A pointer is simply a variable which holds the address of another variable there on can use it to access a variable by pointing to it.

Pointer is Variable Which Stores the adrress of Other variable.

Definition:

int *p;
*p = 10;

Explanation:

p is a variable with the type of pointer that stores the address of an anonymous variable with the type of integer (here is its value equals 10).

Can you please explain pointer is used to store address of that variable or address of another variable?

Can somebody please give some effective answer as to why option B is wrong Because a pointer can also store address of an instruction viz. Function pointer. So they why B is considered wrong ?

Your answer is confusing because pointers can ALSO store things that are not variables.

A variable is something that has a type, value, and a symbolic name.

- Pointer to a string constant. char *p = "Hello";
Note that a string constant does not have a name. This is not a pointer to a variable.

- Pointer to dynamic memory. int *p = (int *) malloc(10);
Note that the memory dynamically allocated is mutable but it is not a variable because it has no name.

What about a pointer to a function?

Can anybody tell why option B is not correct?