1) Pointers allow functions to modify variables in the calling function by passing the address of variables. This allows functions to return multiple values. 2) Structures can be passed to functions using pointers to avoid expensive copying of large structures. Pointers to structures use -> to access members. 3) Pointers must match the type of the variable being pointed to. Dereferencing a NULL pointer causes a program to crash. Pointers can make code more efficient by passing addresses rather than values.

1. Unit-5.1
Pointer, Structure, Union
&
Intro to File Handling
Course: BTECH
Subject: Programming In C Language

2. What is a pointer
• In a generic sense, a “pointer” is anything that tells usIn a generic sense, a “pointer” is anything that tells us
where something can be found.where something can be found.
– Addresses in the phone book
– URLs for webpages
– Road signs

3. Java Reference
• In Java, the name of an object is a reference to that object.In Java, the name of an object is a reference to that object.
HereHere ford is a reference to a Truck object. It contains theis a reference to a Truck object. It contains the
memory address at which the Truck object is stored.memory address at which the Truck object is stored.
Truck ford = new Truck( );
• The syntax for using the reference is pretty simple. JustThe syntax for using the reference is pretty simple. Just
use the “dot” notation.use the “dot” notation.
ford.start( );
ford.drive( 23 );
ford.turn (LEFT);

4. What is a pointer ?
• In C, a pointer variable (or just “pointer”) is similar toIn C, a pointer variable (or just “pointer”) is similar to
a reference in Java except thata reference in Java except that
– A pointer can contain the memory address of any variable
type (Java references only refer to objects)
– A primitive (int, char, float)
– An array
– A struct or union
– Dynamically allocated memory
– Another pointer
– A function
– There’s a lot of syntax required to create and use pointers

5. Why Pointers?
• They allow you to refer to large data structures in a compactThey allow you to refer to large data structures in a compact
wayway
• They facilitate sharing between different parts of programsThey facilitate sharing between different parts of programs
• They make it possible to get new memory dynamically as yourThey make it possible to get new memory dynamically as your
program is runningprogram is running
• They make it easy to represent relationships among data items.They make it easy to represent relationships among data items.

6. Pointer Caution
• They are a powerful low-level device.They are a powerful low-level device.
• Undisciplined use can be confusing and thus theUndisciplined use can be confusing and thus the
source of subtle, hard-to-find bugs.source of subtle, hard-to-find bugs.
– Program crashes
– Memory leaks
– Unpredictable results

7. C Pointer Variables
To declare a pointer variable, we must do two thingsTo declare a pointer variable, we must do two things
– Use the “*” (star) character to indicate that the variable being
defined is a pointer type.
– Indicate the type of variable to which the pointer will point
(the pointee). This is necessary because C provides
operations on pointers (e.g., *, ++, etc) whose meaning
depends on the type of the pointee.
• General declaration of a pointerGeneral declaration of a pointer
type *nameOfPointer;

8. Pointer Declaration
The declarationThe declaration
int *intPtr;
defines the variabledefines the variable intPtr to be a pointer to a variable of typeto be a pointer to a variable of type
int.. intPtr will contain the memory address of somewill contain the memory address of some int
variable orvariable or int array. Read this declaration asarray. Read this declaration as
– “intPtr is a pointer to an int”, or equivalently
– “*intPtr is an int”
Caution -- Be careful when defining multiple variables on the sameCaution -- Be careful when defining multiple variables on the same
line. In this definitionline. In this definition
int *intPtr, intPtr2;
intPtr is a pointer to an int, but intPtr2 is not!

9. Pointer Operators
The two primary operators used with pointers areThe two primary operators used with pointers are
* (star) and(star) and && (ampersand)(ampersand)
– The * operator is used to define pointer variables and to
deference a pointer. “Dereferencing” a pointer means to use
the value of the pointee.
– The & operator gives the address of a variable.
Recall the use of & in scanf( )

10. Pointer Examples
int x = 1, y = 2, z[10];
int *ip; /* ip is a pointer to an int */
ip = &x; /* ip points to (contains the memory address of) x */
y = *ip; /* y is now 1, indirectly copied from x using ip */
*ip = 0; /* x is now 0 */
ip = &z[5]; /* ip now points to z[5] */
If ip points to x, then *ip can be used anywhere x can be used so in this
example *ip = *ip + 10; and x = x + 10; are equivalent
The * and & operators bind more tightly than arithmetic operators so
y = *ip + 1; takes the value of the variable to which ip points, adds 1
and assigns it to y
Similarly, the statements *ip += 1; and ++*ip; and (*ip)++; all increment
the variable to which ip points. (Note that the parenthesis are
necessary in the last statement; without them, the expression would
increment ip rather than what it points to since operators like * and
++ associate from right to left.)

11. Pointer and Variable types
• The type of a pointer and its pointee must matchThe type of a pointer and its pointee must match
int a = 42;
int *ip;
double d = 6.34;
double *dp;
ip = &a; /* ok -- types match */
dp = &d; /* ok */
ip = &d; /* compiler error -- type mismatch */
dp = &a; /* compiler error */

12. More Pointer Code
• Use ampersand (Use ampersand ( & ) to obtain the address of the pointee) to obtain the address of the pointee
• Use star (Use star ( * ) to get / change the value of the pointee) to get / change the value of the pointee
• UseUse %p to print the value of a pointer withto print the value of a pointer with printf( )
• What is the output from this code?What is the output from this code?
int a = 1, *ptr1;
/* show value and address of a
** and value of the pointer */
ptr1 = &a ;
printf("a = %d, &a = %p, ptr1 = %p, *ptr1 = %dn",
a, &a, ptr1, *ptr1) ;
/* change the value of a by dereferencing ptr1
** then print again */
*ptr1 = 35 ;
printf(“a = %d, &a = %p, ptr1 = %p, *ptr1 = %dn",
a, &a, ptr1, *ptr1) ;

13. NULL
• NULL is a special value which may be assigned to a pointerNULL is a special value which may be assigned to a pointer
• NULL indicates that this pointer does not point to any variableNULL indicates that this pointer does not point to any variable
(there is no pointee)(there is no pointee)
• Often used when pointers are declaredOften used when pointers are declared
int *pInt = NULL;
• Often used as the return type of functions that return a pointer toOften used as the return type of functions that return a pointer to
indicate function failureindicate function failure
int *myPtr;
myPtr = myFunction( );
if (myPtr == NULL){
/* something bad happened */
}
• Dereferencing a pointer whose value is NULL will result inDereferencing a pointer whose value is NULL will result in
program terminationprogram termination..

14. Pointers and Function Arguments
• Since C passes all primitive function arguments “by value” thereSince C passes all primitive function arguments “by value” there
is no direct way for a function to alter a variable in the callingis no direct way for a function to alter a variable in the calling
code.code.
• This version of theThis version of the swap function doesn’t work.function doesn’t work. WHY NOT?WHY NOT?
/* calling swap from somewhere in main() */
int x = 42, y = 17;
Swap( x, y );
/* wrong version of swap */
void Swap (int a, int b)
{
int temp;
temp = a;
a = b;
b = temp;
}

15. A better swap( )
• The desired effect can be obtained by passing pointers to theThe desired effect can be obtained by passing pointers to the
values to be exchanged.values to be exchanged.
• This is a very common use of pointers.This is a very common use of pointers.
/* calling swap from somewhere in main( ) */
int x = 42, y = 17;
Swap( &x, &y );
/* correct version of swap */
void Swap (int *px, int *py)
{
int temp;
temp = *px;
*px = *py;
*py = temp;
}

16. More Pointer Function
Parameters
• Passing the address of variable(s) to a function canPassing the address of variable(s) to a function can
be used to have a function “return” multiple values.be used to have a function “return” multiple values.
• The pointer arguments point to variables in the callingThe pointer arguments point to variables in the calling
code which are changed (“returned”) by the function.code which are changed (“returned”) by the function.

17. ConvertTime.c
void ConvertTime (int time, int *pHours, int *pMins)
{
*pHours = time / 60;
*pMins = time % 60;
}
int main( )
{
int time, hours, minutes;
printf("Enter a time duration in minutes: ");
scanf ("%d", &time);
ConvertTime (time, &hours, &minutes);
printf("HH:MM format: %d:%02dn", hours, minutes);
return 0;
}

18. An Exercise
• What is the output from this code?What is the output from this code?
void F (int a, int *b)
{
a = 7 ;
*b = a ;
b = &a ;
*b = 4 ;
printf("%d, %dn", a, *b) ;
}
int main()
{
int m = 3, n = 5;
F(m, &n) ;
printf("%d, %dn", m, n) ;
return 0;
}
4, 4
3, 7

19. Pointers to struct
/* define a struct for related student data */
typedef struct student {
char name[50];
char major [20];
double gpa;
} STUDENT;
STUDENT bob = {"Bob Smith", "Math", 3.77};
STUDENT sally = {"Sally", "CSEE", 4.0};
STUDENT *pStudent; /* pStudent is a "pointer to struct student" */
/* make pStudent point to bob */
pStudent = &bob;
/* use -> to access the members */
printf ("Bob's name: %sn", pStudent->name);
printf ("Bob's gpa : %fn", pStudent->gpa);
/* make pStudent point to sally */
pStudent = &sally;
printf ("Sally's name: %sn", pStudent->name);
printf ("Sally's gpa: %fn", pStudent->gpa);
Note too that the following are equivalent. Why??
pStudent->gpa and (*pStudent).gpa /* the parentheses are necessary */

20. Pointer to struct for functions
void PrintStudent(STUDENT *studentp)
{
printf(“Name : %sn”, studentp->name);
printf(“Major: %sn”, studentp->major);
printf(“GPA : %4.2f”, studentp->gpa);
}
Passing a pointer to a struct to a function is more
efficient than passing the struct itself. Why is this
true?

21. References
1. www.tutorialspoint.com/cprogramming/c_pointers.htm
2. www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/c/lesson6.html
3. pw1.netcom.com/~tjensen/ptr/pointers.html
4. Programming in C by yashwant kanitkar
5.ANSI C by E.balagurusamy- TMG publication
6.Computer programming and Utilization by sanjay shah Mahajan Publication
7.www.cprogramming.com/books.html
8.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)