Whats the difference between:

char str1[] = "wxyz";
char* str2 = "abcd";

I can do this:
str2 = str1

but I can't do this:
str1 = str2

(isn't str1 technically a pointer?)


Thanks

Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.humyn@gmail.com> wrote:
> Whats the difference between:

> char str1[] = "wxyz";
> char* str2 = "abcd";

> I can do this:
> str2 = str1

> but I can't do this:
> str1 = str2

> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)

No. 'str1' is an array of 5 chars, initialized to the characters
'w', 'x', 'y', 'z' and '\0'. Only if 'str1' is used in a place
where a value is required (e.g. if 'str1' is an argument of a
function call) it gets replaced automatically by a pointer to
the first element of that array. But that doesn't change any-
thing about the "nonpointerness" of 'str1', it's an array and
remains to be an array until it goes out of scope.

In contrast, 'str2' is a pointer, initialized to point to the
string literal "abcd" (that could very well be in read-only
memory). Since 'str2' is a pointer you can assign it a different
value, e.g. by using

str2 = str1;

This works because in this case on the right hand side of the
asignment a value is required and now "the rule" applies, i.e.
that if an array is used in a context where a value is needed
it is replaced by a pointer to its first element.

This automatic conversion is actually not much different from
what happens when you write

int a = 1.2;

Since on the right hand side an int value is required the double
value you have there is automatically converted to an int value.

C could in principle refrain from doing such automatic conversions
and require that you explicitely state your intent like

int a = ( int ) 1.2;

or

str2 = &str[ 0 ];

but that's not how the inventors of C decided to do it and in-
stead introduced some automatic conversions.

But

str1 = str2;

is still a syntax error since 'str1' is not a pointer and can't
be treated like a pointer because it has a completely different
type.
Regards, Jens
--
\ Jens Thoms Toerring ___ jt@toerring.de
\__________________________ http://toerring.de

Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.humyn@gmail.com> writes:
> Whats the difference between:
>
> char str1[] = "wxyz";
> char* str2 = "abcd";

str1 is an array; str2 is a pointer.

> I can do this:
> str2 = str1

Right. str1, an array expression, is implicitly converted to a
pointer in most contexts, including this one.

> but I can't do this:
> str1 = str2

Right, you can't assign to an array.

> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)

No, str1 is an array. Arrays are not pointers; pointers are not
arrays. This is probably the most common misconception about C.

Read section 6 of the comp.lang.c FAQ, <http://www.c-faq.com/>. Feel
free to post again with more specific questions if you're still
confused after that.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Nokia
"We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this."
-- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

On May 26, 1:04am, Keith Thompson <ks...@mib.org> wrote:
> Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> writes:
> > Whats the difference between:
>
> > char str1[] = "wxyz";
> > char* str2 = "abcd";
>
> str1 is an array; str2 is a pointer.
>
> > I can do this:
> > str2 = str1
>
> Right. str1, an array expression, is implicitly converted to a
> pointer in most contexts, including this one.
>
> > but I can't do this:
> > str1 = str2
>
> Right, you can't assign to an array.
>
> > (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)
>
> No, str1 is an array. Arrays are not pointers; pointers are not
> arrays. This is probably the most common misconception about C.
>
> Read section 6 of the comp.lang.c FAQ, <http://www.c-faq.com/>. Feel
> free to post again with more specific questions if you're still
> confused after that.
>
> --
> Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) ks...@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
> Nokia
> "We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this.."
> -- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

Thanks Jens and Antony....this info was really really ful

Happy coding

On May 26, 1:04am, Keith Thompson <ks...@mib.org> wrote:
> Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> writes:
> > Whats the difference between:
>
> > char str1[] = "wxyz";
> > char* str2 = "abcd";
>
> str1 is an array; str2 is a pointer.
>
> > I can do this:
> > str2 = str1
>
> Right. str1, an array expression, is implicitly converted to a
> pointer in most contexts, including this one.
>
> > but I can't do this:
> > str1 = str2
>
> Right, you can't assign to an array.
>
> > (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)
>
> No, str1 is an array. Arrays are not pointers; pointers are not
> arrays. This is probably the most common misconception about C.
>
> Read section 6 of the comp.lang.c FAQ, <http://www.c-faq.com/>. Feel
> free to post again with more specific questions if you're still
> confused after that.
>
> --
> Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) ks...@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
> Nokia
> "We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this.."
> -- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

Thanks Jens and Antony....this info was really really ful

Happy coding

On May 25, 10:37 pm, Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Whats the difference between:
>
> char str1[] = "wxyz";
> char* str2 = "abcd";
>
> I can do this:
> str2 = str1
>
> but I can't do this:
> str1 = str2
>
> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)
str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:

int foo(char str1[], char *str2) {
str1 = str2; /* valid */
return 0;
}

4On Tue, 27 May 2008 06:20:12 -0700 (PDT), vippstar@gmail.com wrote:

>On May 25, 10:37 pm, Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Whats the difference between:
>>
>> char str1[] = "wxyz";
>> char* str2 = "abcd";
>>
>> I can do this:
>> str2 = str1
>>
>> but I can't do this:
>> str1 = str2
>>
>> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)

No, str1 is technically an array.

>str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:

str1 is never a pointer but it is converted to a pointer in many
cases, not just the two you mention.

When used in an expression, str1 has type array of 5 char. As such,
this expression will be automatically converted by the compiler to a
pointer to the first element of the array with type pointer to char
(effectively &str1[0]) in every case except:
when used as the operand of the sizeof operator
when used as the operand of the & operator

(There is a third exception but it applies only to string literals
used to initialize an array as part of the array definition.)

This is why the statement str2 = str1; is legal. str2 has type char*.
The expression str1 is converted to an expression that has type char*.
It is legal to assign an expression of type char* to an object of type
char*.

>
>int foo(char str1[], char *str2) {
> str1 = str2; /* valid */
> return 0;
>}


Remove del for email

On May 28, 4:58 am, Barry Schwarz <schwa...@dqel.com> wrote:
> 4On Tue, 27 May 2008 06:20:12 -0700 (PDT), vipps...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> >On May 25, 10:37 pm, Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Whats the difference between:
>
> >> char str1[] = "wxyz";
> >> char* str2 = "abcd";
>
> >> I can do this:
> >> str2 = str1
>
> >> but I can't do this:
> >> str1 = str2
>
> >> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)
>
> No, str1 is technically an array.
>
> >str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:
>
> str1 is never a pointer but it is converted to a pointer in many
> cases, not just the two you mention.
str1 in my example code is a pointer.
> When used in an expression, str1 has type array of 5 char. As such,
> this expression will be automatically converted by the compiler to a
> pointer to the first element of the array with type pointer to char
> (effectively &str1[0]) in every case except:
> when used as the operand of the sizeof operator
> when used as the operand of the & operator
>
> (There is a third exception but it applies only to string literals
> used to initialize an array as part of the array definition.)
>
> This is why the statement str2 = str1; is legal. str2 has type char*.
> The expression str1 is converted to an expression that has type char*.
No, str1 is a char * (in my example).
> It is legal to assign an expression of type char* to an object of type
> char*.
>
>
>
> >int foo(char str1[], char *str2) {
> > str1 = str2; /* valid */
> > return 0;
> >}

See question 6.4 of the c-faq.
<http://c-faq.com/>

vippstar@gmail.com writes:
> On May 28, 4:58 am, Barry Schwarz <schwa...@dqel.com> wrote:
>> 4On Tue, 27 May 2008 06:20:12 -0700 (PDT), vipps...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> >On May 25, 10:37 pm, Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> Whats the difference between:
>>
>> >> char str1[] = "wxyz";
>> >> char* str2 = "abcd";
>>
>> >> I can do this:
>> >> str2 = str1
>>
>> >> but I can't do this:
>> >> str1 = str2
>>
>> >> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)
>>
>> No, str1 is technically an array.
>>
>> >str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:
>>
>> str1 is never a pointer but it is converted to a pointer in many
>> cases, not just the two you mention.
> str1 in my example code is a pointer.

str1, in the only example code quoted here, is an array, not a
pointer.

[...]

>> This is why the statement str2 = str1; is legal. str2 has type char*.
>> The expression str1 is converted to an expression that has type char*.
> No, str1 is a char * (in my example).

Then perhaps your example got lost. The sample code, if the
attributions are correct was originally posted by Ahmad Humayun; in
that code, str1 is declared as an array.

[snip]

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Nokia
"We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this."
-- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

On May 28, 8:11 pm, Keith Thompson <ks...@mib.org> wrote:
> vipps...@gmail.com writes:
> > On May 28, 4:58 am, Barry Schwarz <schwa...@dqel.com> wrote:
> >> 4On Tue, 27 May 2008 06:20:12 -0700 (PDT), vipps...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> >> >On May 25, 10:37 pm, Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >> Whats the difference between:
>
> >> >> char str1[] = "wxyz";
> >> >> char* str2 = "abcd";
>
> >> >> I can do this:
> >> >> str2 = str1
>
> >> >> but I can't do this:
> >> >> str1 = str2
>
> >> >> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)
>
> >> No, str1 is technically an array.
>
> >> >str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:
>
> >> str1 is never a pointer but it is converted to a pointer in many
> >> cases, not just the two you mention.
> > str1 in my example code is a pointer.
>
> str1, in the only example code quoted here, is an array, not a
> pointer.
>
> [...]
>
> >> This is why the statement str2 = str1; is legal. str2 has type char*.
> >> The expression str1 is converted to an expression that has type char*.
> > No, str1 is a char * (in my example).
>
> Then perhaps your example got lost. The sample code, if the
> attributions are correct was originally posted by Ahmad Humayun; in
> that code, str1 is declared as an array.
>
> [snip]
My example was right in that [snip].
Let's follow the discussion, first my message:

-- message --
On May 25, 10:37 pm, Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Whats the difference between:

> char str1[] = "wxyz";
> char* str2 = "abcd";

> I can do this:
> str2 = str1

> but I can't do this:
> str1 = str2

> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)

str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:

int foo(char str1[], char *str2) { <------ my example
str1 = str2; /* valid */
return 0;

}
-- message --

Then Mr Schwarz reply:

-- message --
4On Tue, 27 May 2008 06:20:12 -0700 (PDT), vipps...@gmail.com wrote:

>On May 25, 10:37 pm, Ahmad Humayun <ahmad.hu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Whats the difference between:

>> char str1[] = "wxyz";
>> char* str2 = "abcd";

>> I can do this:
>> str2 = str1

>> but I can't do this:
>> str1 = str2

>> (isn't str1 technically a pointer?)

No, str1 is technically an array.

>str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:

str1 is never a pointer but it is converted to a pointer in many
cases, not just the two you mention.

When used in an expression, str1 has type array of 5 char. As such,
this expression will be automatically converted by the compiler to a
pointer to the first element of the array with type pointer to char
(effectively &str1[0]) in every case except:
when used as the operand of the sizeof operator
when used as the operand of the & operator

(There is a third exception but it applies only to string literals
used to initialize an array as part of the array definition.)

This is why the statement str2 = str1; is legal. str2 has type char*.
The expression str1 is converted to an expression that has type char*.
It is legal to assign an expression of type char* to an object of type
char*.

>int foo(char str1[], char *str2) { /* <---- my code here again */
> str1 = str2; /* valid */
> return 0;
>}

Remove del for email
-- message --

I think it's clear that when I said this:
> str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:
> <snip code>
I was talking about my code, and not Mr Humayuns code.
Then Mr Schwarz says:

> >str1 would be a pointer only in function declarations and definitions:
> str1 is never a pointer but it is converted to a pointer in many
> cases, not just the two you mention.
Mr Schwarz either took that out of context or he was not aware that in
my example, indeed, str1 is a pointer.

vippstar@gmail.com writes:
> On May 28, 8:11 pm, Keith Thompson <ks...@mib.org> wrote:
[...]
>> str1, in the only example code quoted here, is an array, not a
>> pointer.
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> >> This is why the statement str2 = str1; is legal. str2 has type char*.
>> >> The expression str1 is converted to an expression that has type char*.
>> > No, str1 is a char * (in my example).
>>
>> Then perhaps your example got lost. The sample code, if the
>> attributions are correct was originally posted by Ahmad Humayun; in
>> that code, str1 is declared as an array.
>>
>> [snip]
> My example was right in that [snip].
[...]

So it was.

The article to which I replied did have a declaration of str1 (as an
array), and I missed the other declaration that appeared at the bottom
of that article, after your statement that you had declared it as a
pointer.

Incidentally, the original declaration:

char str1[] = "wxyz";

cannot be a pointer declaration; for it to be one, you'd have to move
it into a function prototype *and* drop the `` = "wxyz";''.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Nokia
"We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this."
-- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"