How to Read Complex and Difficult Pointer in C Programming ?

Before We Learn How to Read Complex Array we should first know precedence and associative .

• Precedence : Operator precedence describes the order in which C reads expressions
• Associativity : Order operators of equal precedence in an expression are applied

Before Reading Article You Should know Precedence and Associative Table

Operator	Precedence	Associative
(),[]	1	Left to Right
*,Identifier	2	Right to Left
Data Type	3	-

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Different Terms From Table -

()	Bracket operator OR function operator.
[]	Array subscription operator
*	Pointer operator
Identifier	Name of Pointer Variable
Data type	Type of Pointer

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How to Read ?

char (* ptr)[5]

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Step 1 :

• Observe Above Precedence Table
• [] and () have Same Priority
• Using Associativity , Highest Priority Element is decided
• Associativity is from Left to Right First Priority is Given to "()"

Step 2 :

• Between Pair of Brackets again we have to decide which one has highest priority ? '*' or 'ptr' ?
• * and Identifier ptr have Same Priority
• Associativity is from Right to Left First Priority is Given to "ptr"

Step 3 :

• Assign third Priority to [].
• Write 3 under []

Step 4 :

• Here Char is Data Type
• Assign Priority 4 to char

Read it as -

ptr is pointer to a one dimensional array having size five which can store data of type char

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Tags / Keywords : | Pointer, reading pointer

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