To improve reliability Modern processors can protect pages in RAM from being overwritten. Unlike C++ applications which can check for and capture exceptions and continue processing, C applications can't handle exceptions and usually get closed down if one occurs.
If a pointer is used with an existing variable or data then you don't have to allocate memory as it already exists.
Syntax of Pointer Declaration
The * character is used to refer to a pointer.int variable /* declares an int variable */Pointer syntax, especially if arrays are involved can get horribly complex. My advice is to use typedef to simplify the declarations.
int * variable /* declares a pointer to an int variable */
int * variable[5] /* declares an array of 5 pointers, each to an int variable */
void * variable; /* Pointer to anything */
Example 1 (Listed on page 4) shows some uses of pointers.Here is what it does.
The variable Fred is a string, or more accurately a pointer to an array of char. Arrays and pointers have a great deal in common. When the compiler builds in a string like this, it adds a hidden '\0' so it will allocate space for 5 characters 't','e','x','t',\0. Fred is just that, a variable and so can be changed. The variable okfred is also a char * but points to nothing as it has not been explicitly initialized.
On the next page Explanation of Example 1 Continued
