Pointer to Structure in C Programming

Pointer to Structure in C Programming

1. Address of Pointer variable can be obtained using ‘&’ operator.
2. Address of such Structure can be assigned to the Pointer variable .
3. Pointer Variable which stores the address of Structure must be declared as Pointer to Structure .

Pointer to Structure Syntax :

struct student_database
{
    char name[10];
    int roll;
    int marks;
}stud1;
struct student_database *ptr;
ptr = &stud1;

How to Access Structure Members :

Way 1 : Using Structure Name

Accessing Roll Number : stud1.roll
Accessing Name        : stud1.name

We can use DOT operator to access the members of the structure.

Live Example 1 :

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
struct student_database
{
    char name[10];
    int roll;
    int marks;
}stud1;
stud1.roll = 10;
stud1.marks = 90;
printf("Roll Number : %d",stud1.roll);
printf("Marks of Student : %d",stud1.marks);
return 0;
}

Output :

Roll Number : 10
Marks of Student : 90

Way 2 : Using Indirection Operator and Pointer

Accessing Roll Number : (*ptr).roll
Accessing Name        : (*ptr).name

Pointer variable is declared and pointer to structure. Whenever we declare pointer variable ,address of the structure variable is assigned to the pointer variable.

Live Example 2 :

#include <stdio.h>
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
struct student_database {
    char name[10];
    int roll;
    int marks;
}stud1 = {"Pritesh",90,90};
struct student_database *ptr;
ptr = &stud1;
printf("Roll Number : %d",(*ptr).roll);
printf("Marks of Student : %d",(*ptr).marks);
return 0;
}

Output of the Program :

Roll Number : 90
Marks of Student : 90

Way 3 : Using Membership Operator

Accessing Roll Number : ptr->roll;
Accessing Name        : ptr->name;

Live Example 3 :

#include <stdio.h>
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
struct student_database {
    char name[10];
    int roll;
    int marks;
}stud1 = {"Pritesh",90,90};
struct student_database *ptr;
ptr = &stud1;
printf("Roll Number : %d",(ptr)->roll);
printf("Marks of Student : %d",(ptr)->marks);
return 0;
}

Whenever we access the member of the structure using the pointer we use arrow operator to access the member of structure.