C pointer addition

In the previous lecture we have learnt about decrementing pointer variable. In this chapter we will be learning about adding integer number to pointer variable.

Adding integer value with Pointer

In C Programming we can add any integer number to Pointer variable. It is perfectly legal in c programming to add integer to pointer variable.
In order to compute the final value we need to use following formulae :

final value = (address) + (number * size of data type)

Consider the following example -

int *ptr , n;
ptr = &n ;
ptr = ptr + 3;

Live Example 1 : Increment Integer Pointer

#include<stdio.h>
int main(){
int *ptr=(int *)1000;
ptr=ptr+3;
printf("New Value of ptr : %u",ptr);
return 0;
}

Output :

New Value of ptr : 1006

Explanation of Program :

In the above program -

int *ptr=(int *)1000;

this line will store 1000 in the pointer variable considering 1000 is memory location for any of the integer variable.

Formula :

ptr = ptr   + 3 * (sizeof(integer))
    = 1000  + 3 * (2)
    = 1000  + 6
    = 1006

Similarly if we have written above statement like this -

float *ptr=(float *)1000;

then result may be

ptr = ptr   + 3 * (sizeof(float))
    = 1000  + 3 * (4)
    = 1000  + 12
    = 1012

In the next chapter we will be subtracting the integer number from the pointer variable.