pre increment struct single pointer
In this section, you are going to learn
How to iterate structure array using ++ptr ?
What is the meaning of
++ptr
,*++ptr
,*(++ptr)
,*++(ptr)
,++(*ptr)
,++*ptr
?What is the meaning of
c = ++ptr
,c = *++ptr
,c = *(++ptr)
,c = *++(ptr)
,c = ++(*ptr)
,c = ++*ptr
?What is the difference between
++ptr
,*++ptr
,*(++ptr)
,*++(ptr)
,++(*ptr)
,++*ptr
?What is the difference between
c = ++ptr
,c = *++ptr
,c = *(++ptr)
,c = *++(ptr)
,c = ++(*ptr)
,c = ++*ptr
?
Basics of Pre Increment
Step 1 : Define a Single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Point
ptr
to Single dimension array
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
Step 3 : Increment
ptr
++ptr;
Step 4 : Print
*ptr
printf("ptr->a = %d\n", ptr->a);
printf("ptr->b = %d\n", ptr->b);
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
++ptr;
printf("ptr->a = %d\n", ptr->a);
printf("ptr->b = %d\n", ptr->b);
return 0;
}
Output is as below
ptr->a = 2
ptr->b = 3
Step 1 : Define a Single Dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Point
ptr
to Single dimension array
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
Step 3 : Print structure array by iterating through all structures using
++ptr
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
printf("ptr->a = %d\n", ptr->a);
printf("ptr->b = %d\n", ptr->b);
++ptr;
}
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
printf("ptr->a = %d\n", ptr->a);
printf("ptr->b = %d\n", ptr->b);
++ptr;
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
ptr->a = 0
ptr->b = 1
ptr->a = 2
ptr->b = 3
ptr->a = 4
ptr->b = 5
Consider statement
p = ++ptr;
There are two steps in this statement
ptr
is incrementedCurrent value of
ptr
is assigned top
We now derived a rule
First Increment, then Assign
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Define a single pointer and point to array
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
OR
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = &arr[0];
Step 3 : Iterate and print the structure array
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data *p;
p = ++ptr;
printf("p->a = %d\n", p->a);
printf("p->b = %d\n", p->b);
}
Can you guess what is happening ?
Let us Recall
p = ++ptr;
There are two steps in this statement
ptr
is incrementedCurrent value of
ptr
is assigned top
We now derived a rule
First Increment, then Assign
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data *p;
p = ++ptr;
printf("p->a = %d\n", p->a);
printf("p->b = %d\n", p->b);
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
ptr->a = 2
ptr->b = 3
ptr->a = 4
ptr->b = 5
Consider statement
c = *(++ptr);
There are two steps in this statement
ptr
is incrementedCurrent value of
*ptr
is assigned toc
*ptr
is NOT incremented
We now derived a rule
First Increment, then Assign
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Define a single pointer and point to array
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
OR
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = &arr[0];
Step 3 : Iterate and print the structure array
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *(++ptr);
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Output is as below
Can you guess what is happening ?
Let us Recall
c = *(++ptr);
There are two steps in this statement
ptr
is incrementedCurrent value of
*ptr
is assigned toc
*ptr
is NOT incremented
We now derived a rule
First Increment, then Assign
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *(++ptr);
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Consider statement
c = *++ptr;
There are two steps in this statement
ptr
is incrementedCurrent value of
*ptr
is assigned toc
*ptr
is NOT incremented
We now derived a rule
First Increment, then Assign
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Define a single pointer and point to array
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
OR
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = &arr[0];
Step 3 : Iterate and print the structure array
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Can you guess what is happening ?
Let us Recall
c = *++ptr;
There are two steps in this statement
ptr
is incrementedCurrent value of
*ptr
is assigned toc
*ptr
is NOT incremented
We now derived a rule
First Increment, then Assign
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Consider statement
c = *++(ptr);
There are two steps in this statement
ptr
is incrementedCurrent value of
*ptr
is assigned toc
*ptr
is NOT incremented
We now derived a rule
First Increment, then Assign
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Define a single pointer and point to array
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
OR
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = &arr[0];
Step 3 : Iterate and print the structure array
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++(ptr);
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Can you guess what is happening ?
Let us Recall
c = *++(ptr);
There are two steps in this statement
ptr
is incrementedCurrent value of
*ptr
is assigned toc
*ptr
is NOT incremented
We now derived a rule
First Increment, then Assign
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++(ptr);
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Consider statement
c = ++(*ptr);
This is invalid usage for a structure pointer !
Summary of expressions
Expression |
Explanation |
---|---|
c = ++ptr |
|
c = *++ptr |
|
c = *(++ptr) |
|
c = *++(ptr) |
|
c = ++*ptr |
|
c = ++*(ptr) |
|
Pre Increment : struct pointer inside structure
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Create a structure object
struct ABC
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC abc;
Step 3 : Point single structure pointer to single dimension array
abc.ptr = arr;
Step 4 : Iterate through single dimension array using pointer
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++abc.ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct ABC
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct ABC abc;
abc.ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++abc.ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Allocate memory for structure pointers
struct ABC
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC *sp;
sp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC));
Step 3 : Point single structure pointer to single dimension array
sp->ptr = arr;
Step 4 : Iterate through single dimension array using pointer
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++sp->ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Step 5 : Free memory after use
free(sp);
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct ABC
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct ABC *sp;
sp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC));
sp->ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++sp->ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
free(sp);
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Allocate memory for structure pointers
struct ABC
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC **dp;
dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC *));
*dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC ));
Step 3 : Point single structure pointer to single dimension array
(*dp)->ptr = arr;
Step 4 : Iterate through single dimension array using pointer
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++(*dp)->ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Step 5 : Free memory after use
free(*dp);
free(dp);
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct ABC
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct ABC **dp;
dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC *));
*dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC ));
(*dp)->ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++(*dp)->ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
free(*dp);
free(dp);
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Allocate memory for structure pointers
struct ABC
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC ***dp;
dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC **));
*dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC *));
**dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC ));
Step 3 : Point single structure pointer to single dimension array
(**dp)->ptr = arr;
Step 4 : Iterate through single dimension array using pointer
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++(**dp)->ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Step 5 : Free memory after use
free(**dp);
free(*dp);
free(dp);
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct ABC
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct ABC ***dp;
dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC **));
*dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC *));
**dp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC ));
(**dp)->ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++(**dp)->ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
free(**dp);
free(*dp);
free(dp);
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Create a structure object
struct PQR
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC
{
struct PQR pqr;
};
struct ABC abc;
Step 3 : Point single structure pointer to single dimension array
abc.pqr.ptr = arr;
Step 4 : Iterate through single dimension array using pointer
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++abc.pqr.ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct PQR
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC
{
struct PQR pqr;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct ABC abc;
abc.pqr.ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++abc.pqr.ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Allocate memory for structure pointers
struct PQR
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC
{
struct PQR pqr;
};
struct ABC *sp;
sp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC));
Step 3 : Point single structure pointer to single dimension array
sp->pqr.ptr = arr;
Step 4 : Iterate through single dimension array using pointer
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++sp->pqr.ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Step 5 : Free memory after use
free(sp);
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct PQR
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC
{
struct PQR pqr;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct ABC *sp;
sp = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC));
sp->pqr.ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++sp->pqr.ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
free(sp);
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Allocate memory for structure pointers
struct PQR
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC
{
struct PQR *pqr;
};
struct ABC *abc;
abc = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC));
abc->pqr = malloc(sizeof(struct PQR));
Step 3 : Point single structure pointer to single dimension array
abc->pqr->ptr = arr;
Step 4 : Iterate through single dimension array using pointer
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++abc->pqr->ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Step 5 : Free memory after use
free(abc->pqr);
free(abc);
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct PQR
{
struct User_Data *ptr;
};
struct ABC
{
struct PQR *pqr;
};
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct ABC *abc;
abc = malloc(sizeof(struct ABC));
abc->pqr = malloc(sizeof(struct PQR));
abc->pqr->ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
struct User_Data c;
c = *++abc->pqr->ptr;
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
free(abc->pqr);
free(abc);
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Pre Increment : Function Call
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Define a single pointer and point to array
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
Step 3 : Iterate array using ++ptr and Pass by Value
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
fun(*++ptr);
}
Step 4 : Define a function
fun
which receives a structure from caller
void fun(struct User_Data c)
{
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
Let us Recall,
In case of
*++ptr
ptr
is incremented first, then current value of*ptr
is assigned
Hence, in this case
ptr
is incremented first, then current value of*ptr
is passed as arguement to functionfun
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
void fun(struct User_Data c)
{
printf("c.a = %d\n", c.a);
printf("c.b = %d\n", c.b);
}
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
fun(*++ptr);
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c.a = 2
c.b = 3
c.a = 4
c.b = 5
Step 1 : Define a single dimension array
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
Step 2 : Define a single pointer and point to array
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
Step 3 : Iterate array using ++ptr and Pass by Value
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
fun(++ptr);
}
Step 4 : Define a function
fun
which receives a structure pointer from caller
void fun(struct User_Data *c)
{
printf("c->a = %d\n", c->a);
printf("c->b = %d\n", c->b);
}
Let us Recall,
In case of
++ptr
ptr` is first incremented, then assigned
Hence, in this case
ptr` is first incremented, then current value of
ptr
is assigned as argument to functionfun
See full program below
#include <stdio.h>
struct User_Data {
int a;
int b;
};
void fun(struct User_Data *c)
{
printf("c->a = %d\n", c->a);
printf("c->b = %d\n", c->b);
}
int main(void)
{
struct User_Data arr[3] = {
{ .a = 0, .b = 1 },
{ .a = 2, .b = 3 },
{ .a = 4, .b = 5 },
};
struct User_Data *ptr;
ptr = arr;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
{
fun(++ptr);
}
return 0;
}
Output is as below
c->a = 2
c->b = 3
c->a = 4
c->b = 5
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