Pointer to Pointer concept

[rajadurai]

Hello,

I have worked in C but not on pointers, but now I have to work completely in pointer concepts, that is, pointers to pointers, pointers to structures, etc. Can you anyone please suggest me good material to go through? I am searching and I have got few with me.

If anyone can suggest me, I would be happy.

with regards
Rajadurai

[Will.Spencer]

Originally Posted by rajadurai

I have worked in C but not on pointers, but now I have to work completely in pointer concepts, that is, pointers to pointers, pointers to structures, etc.

You have my sympathy. Pointers make most peoples heads hurt.

Originally Posted by rajadurai

Can you anyone please suggest me good material to go through?

Pointers are simple, in theory. Any good book on C programming will tell you all you need to know about pointers.

Looking through my bookshelf, I see a good explanation of pointers in Practical C Programming by Steve Oualline.

Pointers on C is an entire book devoted to C pointers. I don't have that on my bookshelf, so I can't tell you how good it is.

On the web, take a look at:

• Pointers in C and C++
• A Tutorial on Pointers and Arrays in C
• Pointers

It is in practice where pointers become complex. Humans appear to have difficulty keeping track of what is a thing and what is a pointer and where each pointer points to.

My advice is this:

• Use a naming standard for your pointers, such as appending "_ptr" to every pointer.
• Document your variables, including pointers. Comment heavily.

[eeeboy]

From my experience , Pointer is very hard to use at beginning . But once you start to understand the concept , the whole thing is very interesting. You can look at the chapter of pointer written by Kernighan-Ritchie , specially a code about how malloc works.

[Vyoma]

I find that pointers are easy - but that may be due to the effects of occupational hazzard. :P

Anyway, just remember that pointer is a variable that holds the address of something. If you remember that, then it should be easy when you feel that your brain is going down the hill.

Now I feel like explainging a bit more:
What is a pointer to a pointer?
A pointer to a pointer holds the address of the place, where there is another address. It is as smiple as that. (Pardon me if I made it complex).

A pointer is more like the clue in a treasure hunt game. Pointer is a clue (or more a definite clue), that leads you to the treasure - the value which may or may not have an identifier associated with it.

[Lyte]

Ya know, this is all greek to me but I still enjoy reading it! lol

Lyte