What is meant by pointer to pointer?

A pointer to a pointer is a form of multiple indirection, or a chain of pointers. Normally, a pointer contains the address of a variable. When we define a pointer to a pointer, the first pointer contains the address of the second pointer, which points to the location that contains the actual value as shown below.

How do you use pointers to pointers?

A pointer-to-a-pointer is used when a reference to a pointer is required. For example, when you wish to modify the value (address pointed to) of a pointer variable declared in a calling function’s scope inside a called function.

What is pointer to pointer in C with example?

C Double Pointer (Pointer to Pointer) As we know that, a pointer is used to store the address of a variable in C. Such pointer is known as a double pointer (pointer to pointer). The first pointer is used to store the address of a variable whereas the second pointer is used to store the address of the first pointer.

What does In pointer mean?

A pointer is a variable that stores the address of another variable. Unlike other variables that hold values of a certain type, pointer holds the address of a variable. For example, an integer variable holds (or you can say stores) an integer value, however an integer pointer holds the address of a integer variable.

What is a void pointer?

A void pointer is a pointer that has no associated data type with it. A void pointer can hold address of any type and can be typcasted to any type. Some Interesting Facts: 1) void pointers cannot be dereferenced.

WHAT IS NULL pointer in C?

A null pointer is a pointer which points nothing. Some uses of the null pointer are: a) To initialize a pointer variable when that pointer variable isn’t assigned any valid memory address yet. b) To pass a null pointer to a function argument when we don’t want to pass any valid memory address.

Can pointers point to other pointers?

Pointer assignment between two pointers makes them point to the same pointee. So the assignment y = x; makes y point to the same pointee as x . Pointer assignment does not touch the pointees. It just changes one pointer to have the same reference as another pointer.

What is pointer syntax?

Pointers are symbolic representation of addresses. They enable programs to simulate call-by-reference as well as to create and manipulate dynamic data structures. It’s general declaration in C/C++ has the format: Syntax: datatype *var_name; int *ptr; //ptr can point to an address which holds int data.

What is pointer example?

1a Pointers plural : the two stars in the Big Dipper a line through which points to the North Star. b : one that points out especially : a rod used to direct attention. c : a computer memory address that contains another address (as of desired data)

What are pointers used for?

Pointers are used to store and manage the addresses of dynamically allocated blocks of memory. Such blocks are used to store data objects or arrays of objects. Most structured and object-oriented languages provide an area of memory, called the heap or free store, from which objects are dynamically allocated.

What is null and void pointer?

Null pointer is specially reserved value of a pointer. Void pointer is a specific pointer type. Null pointer is used for assigning 0 to a pointer variable of any type. Void pointer is used for storing address of other variable irrespective of its datatype.

What is generic pointer?

When a variable is declared as being a pointer to type void it is known as a generic pointer. Since you cannot have a variable of type void, the pointer will not point to any data and therefore cannot be dereferenced. Hence the term Generic pointer.

What exactly is a pointer?

In computer science, a pointer is a programming language object that stores the memory address of another value located in computer memory. A pointer references a location in memory, and obtaining the value stored at that location is known as dereferencing the pointer.

What is the address of a pointer?

Normally, a pointer contains the address of a variable. When we define a pointer to a pointer, the first pointer contains the address of the second pointer, which points to the location that contains the actual value as shown below. A variable that is a pointer to a pointer must be declared as such.

What is pointer and why pointer are used?

A pointer is a variable . Like other variables, it has a data type and an identifier. However, pointers are used in a way that is fundamentally distinct from the way in which we use “normal” variables, and we have to include an asterisk to tell the compiler that a variable should be treated as a pointer.

What is the definition of pointer?

pointer – (computer science) indicator consisting of a movable spot of light (an icon) on a visual display; moving it allows the user to point to commands or screen positions. cursor. indicator – a device for showing the operating condition of some system.