C pointers,structs,unions

Pointers,Structs,Unions

char* p

-address to single char value / first in array

char* argv[]

-array of type char* with unknown

char** argv

-address to the first element of an array of type char*

int** data

1. Pointer to pointer to single int value

2. Array of addresses that point to single int

3. Address that points to one array of int values

4. Array of addresses that point to arrays of int values

Sizeof(void*) returns size of address

Include limits.h for supporting max and min values with TYPE_MAX/MIN

Const avoids value being modified, would be illegal if attempting to change so

Enums - maps to int, associates name with value

EXAMPLE:

enum month_name{

Jan,Feb,Mar.......,month_undef

};

Structs

Definition:

Struct date{       //date is the tag

enum day_name day;

Int   day_num;

Enum month_name month;

Int                year;

} Big_Day { //declaration

Mon,7,Jan,1980  //initialization

};

Function arguments/returns for structs

EXAMPLE:

Struct cus s1;

Struct sal s2;

Struct sale transact(struct cus s1,struct sal s2){

//actions

Return s1;

}

Initializing:

Struct date deadline = {day_undef,1,Jan,2000};

Struct date* mydate = &deadline;

Typedef

typedef struct date{

Enum day_name     day;

Int            day_num;

Enum month_name month;

Int                year;

}Date;

Memory alignment

The max width of the struct depends on the longest

The padding pattern depends on the order of variables

Address of struct give access to first member

Alignment also depends on architecture, compiler extensions can be used to prevent padding

Union

Variants of structs use same memory

Accessing of elements of union uses same notation as struct

If variants exist in union, eg. Book and film example, use separate variable to indicate which variant in use