What Is Pointer In C?

A pointer is a variable that stores the address of another variable.

Uses:

It is used to allocate memory dynamically

It is used in structure, functions, and arrays

Notes

& (ampersand sign) is called address of operator and it is used to determine the address of a variable

* (asterisk sign) is called indirection operator and it is used to access the value at the address

Declaration of pointer

Datatype *pointername

Example:

int *x; // pointer to int  

Float *y; // pointer to float 

Char *ch // pointer to char

Note:

%d      :          it stores value of a variable

%x or %p:    it stores address of a pointer

Give An Example Of Pointer

#include<stdio.h> 

#include<conio.h>

void main(){ 

int x=50;

clrscr();

 int *p;     

 p=&x;//stores the address of number variable   

  printf("Value of variable var is: %d\n", x);

   printf("Value of variable var is: %d\n", *p);

   printf("Address of variable var is: %x\n", &x);

   printf("Address of variable var is: %x\n", p);

   printf("Address of pointer p is: %x", &p);

getch();

}   

Output:

Value of variable var is: 50                                                                                                   

Value of variable var is: 50                                                                                                   

Address of variable var is: cfb7d734                                                                                           

Address of variable var is: cfb7d734                                                                                           

Address of pointer p is: cfb7d738  

Explanation

Pictorial representation

int x=50;

int *p

P=&x

  cfb7d738 (address)          cfb7d734 (address) cfcfb7d734      

Cfb7d734

50

         p (pointer) 
                                               x(variable)

Explanation:

 x=50;

*p = x=50

&x= cfb7d734;

p=&x= cfb7d734

&p= cfb7d738