How do I use pointers in C?

How do I use pointers in C?

Pointers in C are variables that store the memory address of another variable. Would you like to see an example?

Yes, please provide an example of using pointers.

Sure! Here's a simple example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int var = 20;  // actual variable declaration
    int *ptr;     // pointer variable declaration
    ptr = &var;   // store address of var in pointer

    printf("Value of var: %d\n", var);
    printf("Address of var: %p\n", (void*)&var);
    printf("Value of ptr: %p\n", (void*)ptr);
    printf("Value pointed to by ptr: %d\n", *ptr);
    return 0;
}

This code demonstrates how to declare a pointer and access the value it points to.

What does the asterisk (*) mean in the example?

The asterisk (*) is used to declare a pointer variable and to dereference a pointer, allowing you to access the value at the address it points to.

Can you explain the difference between a pointer and a regular variable?

Certainly! A regular variable holds a value directly, while a pointer holds the memory address of another variable, allowing for dynamic memory management and efficient data manipulation.