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carrayspointersvariable-declaration

C pointer to array/array of pointers disambiguation


What is the difference between the following declarations:

int* arr1[8];
int (*arr2)[8];
int *(arr3[8]);

What is the general rule for understanding more complex declarations?


Solution

  • int* arr[8]; // An array of int pointers.
    int (*arr)[8]; // A pointer to an array of integers
    

    The third one is same as the first.

    The general rule is operator precedence. It can get even much more complex as function pointers come into the picture.