BiteSizedChunks.comLearn one small thing at a time.

Course contentsShow

447Memory as a linear sequence of bytes
448How variables are stored in RAM
449The Address-of operator `&`
450Printing addresses with `%p`
451Hexadecimal notation for memory
452The size of a pointer variable
453Determining variable alignment in memory
454Introduction to the stack frame
455Declaring pointer variables with `*`
456The difference between `int *p` and `*p`
457The Dereference operator `*`
458Assigning values via pointers
459Initializing pointers to NULL
460Multiple pointers to the same address
461Implicit vs explicit pointer types
462Checking for NULL before dereferencing
463Incrementing pointers with `++`
464Adding integers to pointers
465How data types affect step size
466Subtracting two pointers
467Pointer comparison with `==` and `<`
468Scaling factor in pointer math
469Illegal pointer arithmetic operations
470Navigating memory blocks manually
471Array names as constant pointers
472Accessing arrays with pointer notation
473The equivalence of `a[i]` and `*(a + i)`
474Passing arrays to functions as pointers
475Array decay explained
476Pointer to the start of an array
477Iterating arrays using pointer increments
478Bounds checking and pointer safety
479String literals as `char` pointers
480Mutable vs immutable string memory
481Iterating strings until `\0` with pointers
482Pointer-based `strcpy` implementation
483Array of strings vs 2D char array
484Memory layout of string pointers
485Using `const char *` for safety
486Pass-by-value limitations
487Passing addresses to functions
488Modifying caller variables
489Returning multiple values via pointers
490Swapping two numbers using pointers
491Efficiency of passing large structs by pointer
492Side effects in pointer-based functions
493Pointer to a constant (`const int *p`)
494Constant pointer to a value (`int * const p`)
495Constant pointer to a constant
496When to use `const` with pointers
497Read-only function parameters
498The 'Clockwise/Spiral' rule for declarations
499Casting away `const` volatility
500Concept of double indirection
501Declaring `int **pp`
502Visualizing pointer chains
503Modifying a pointer inside a function
504Dynamic 2D array structures
505Accessing data through double dereference
506Command line arguments `char **argv`
507The `void *` generic type
508Why you can't dereference `void *`
509Casting `void *` to specific types
510Implicit conversion to `void *`
511Generic functions in C
512The `memcpy` function signature
513Implementing a generic swap function
514Syntax of function pointers
515Taking the address of a function
516Calling a function via a pointer
517Arrays of function pointers
518Passing functions as arguments
519The `qsort` callback mechanism
520Defining `typedef` for function pointers
521Uninitialized 'wild' pointers
522Dangling pointers after `free`
523Memory leaks and lost pointers
524Buffer overflows via pointers
525Dereferencing the NULL pointer
526Misaligned pointer access
527Pointer type-punning dangers
528Tools for pointer debugging (Valgrind)

447Memory as a linear sequence of bytes
448How variables are stored in RAM
449The Address-of operator `&`
450Printing addresses with `%p`
451Hexadecimal notation for memory
452The size of a pointer variable
453Determining variable alignment in memory
454Introduction to the stack frame
455Declaring pointer variables with `*`
456The difference between `int *p` and `*p`
457The Dereference operator `*`
458Assigning values via pointers
459Initializing pointers to NULL
460Multiple pointers to the same address
461Implicit vs explicit pointer types
462Checking for NULL before dereferencing
463Incrementing pointers with `++`
464Adding integers to pointers
465How data types affect step size
466Subtracting two pointers
467Pointer comparison with `==` and `<`
468Scaling factor in pointer math
469Illegal pointer arithmetic operations
470Navigating memory blocks manually
471Array names as constant pointers
472Accessing arrays with pointer notation
473The equivalence of `a[i]` and `*(a + i)`
474Passing arrays to functions as pointers
475Array decay explained
476Pointer to the start of an array
477Iterating arrays using pointer increments
478Bounds checking and pointer safety
479String literals as `char` pointers
480Mutable vs immutable string memory
481Iterating strings until `\0` with pointers
482Pointer-based `strcpy` implementation
483Array of strings vs 2D char array
484Memory layout of string pointers
485Using `const char *` for safety
486Pass-by-value limitations
487Passing addresses to functions
488Modifying caller variables
489Returning multiple values via pointers
490Swapping two numbers using pointers
491Efficiency of passing large structs by pointer
492Side effects in pointer-based functions
493Pointer to a constant (`const int *p`)
494Constant pointer to a value (`int * const p`)
495Constant pointer to a constant
496When to use `const` with pointers
497Read-only function parameters
498The 'Clockwise/Spiral' rule for declarations
499Casting away `const` volatility
500Concept of double indirection
501Declaring `int **pp`
502Visualizing pointer chains
503Modifying a pointer inside a function
504Dynamic 2D array structures
505Accessing data through double dereference
506Command line arguments `char **argv`
507The `void *` generic type
508Why you can't dereference `void *`
509Casting `void *` to specific types
510Implicit conversion to `void *`
511Generic functions in C
512The `memcpy` function signature
513Implementing a generic swap function
514Syntax of function pointers
515Taking the address of a function
516Calling a function via a pointer
517Arrays of function pointers
518Passing functions as arguments
519The `qsort` callback mechanism
520Defining `typedef` for function pointers
521Uninitialized 'wild' pointers
522Dangling pointers after `free`
523Memory leaks and lost pointers
524Buffer overflows via pointers
525Dereferencing the NULL pointer
526Misaligned pointer access
527Pointer type-punning dangers
528Tools for pointer debugging (Valgrind)

← C

Lesson 457 of 1,219·7. PointersPro lesson

The Dereference operator `*`

This lesson is for subscribers

You've completed the free preview. Subscribe to unlock every lesson in every course.

See pricing Back to course