Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
pointer_types3.c
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
int i;
char char_array[5] = {'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'};
int int_array[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
char *char_pointer;
int *int_pointer;
char_pointer = (char *) int_array; // Typecast into the
int_pointer = (int *) char_array; // pointer's data type.
for(i=0; i < 5; i++) { // Iterate through the int array with the int_pointer.
printf("[integer pointer] points to %p, which contains the char '%c'\n",
int_pointer, *int_pointer);
int_pointer = (int *) ((char *) int_pointer + 1);
}
for(i=0; i < 5; i++) { // Iterate through the char array with the char_pointer.
printf("[char pointer] points to %p, which contains the integer %d\n",
char_pointer, *char_pointer);
char_pointer = (char *) ((int *) char_pointer + 1);
}
}
In this code, when the pointers are initially set, the data is typecast into
the pointer's data type. This will prevent the C compiler from complaining
about the conflicting data types; however, any pointer arithmetic will still be
incorrect. To fix that, when 1 is added to the pointers, they must first be type-
cast into the correct data type so the address is incremented by the correct
amount. Then this pointer needs to be typecast back into the pointer's data
type once again. It doesn't look too pretty, but it works.
reader@hacking:~/booksrc $ gcc pointer_types3.c
reader@hacking:~/booksrc $ ./a.out
[integer pointer] points to 0xbffff810, which contains the char 'a'
[integer pointer] points to 0xbffff811, which contains the char 'b'
[integer pointer] points to 0xbffff812, which contains the char 'c'
[integer pointer] points to 0xbffff813, which contains the char 'd'
[integer pointer] points to 0xbffff814, which contains the char 'e'
[char pointer] points to 0xbffff7f0, which contains the integer 1
[char pointer] points to 0xbffff7f4, which contains the integer 2
[char pointer] points to 0xbffff7f8, which contains the integer 3
[char pointer] points to 0xbffff7fc, which contains the integer 4
[char pointer] points to 0xbffff800, which contains the integer 5
r
eader@hacking:~/booksrc $
