Pointers
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Getting the address of a Variable
The address operator (&) returns the
memory address of a variable.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Figure 1
letter number amount
1200 1201 1203
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 1
// This program uses the & operator to determine a variable’s
// address and the sizeof operator to determine its size.
#include <iostream.h>
void main(void)
{
int x = 25;
cout << "The address of x is " << &x << endl;
cout << "The size of x is " << sizeof(x) << " bytes\n";
cout << "The value in x is " << x << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
The address of x is 0x8f05
The size of x is 2 bytes
The value in x is 25
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Pointer Variables
Pointer variables, which are often just
called pointers, are designed to hold
memory addresses. With pointer
variables you can indirectly manipulate
data stored in other variables.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Pointers are useful for the following:
Working with memory locations that
regular variables don’t give you access to
Working with strings and arrays
Creating new variables in memory while
the program is running
Creating arbitrarily-sized lists of values in
memory
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 2
// This program stores the address of a variable in a
pointer.
#include <iostream.h>
void main(void)
{
int x = 25;
int *ptr;
ptr = &x; // Store the address of x in ptr
cout << "The value in x is " << x << endl;
cout << "The address of x is " << ptr << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
The value in x is 25
The address of x is 0x7e00
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Figure 2
x
25
ptr
0x7e00
Address of x: 0x7e00
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 3
// This program demonstrates the use of the
indirection
// operator.
#include <iostream.h>
void main(void)
{
int x = 25;
int *ptr;
ptr = &x; // Store the address of x in ptr
cout << "Here is the value in x, printed twice:\n";
cout << x << " " << *ptr << endl;
*ptr = 100;
cout << "Once again, here is the value in x:\n";
cout << x << " " << *ptr << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
Here is the value in x, printed twice:
25 25
Once again, here is the value in x:
100 100
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 9-4
#include <iostream>
void main(void)
{
int x = 25, y = 50, z = 75;
int *ptr;
cout << "Here are the values of x, y, and z:\n";
cout << x << " " << y << " " << z << endl;
ptr = &x; // Store the address of x in ptr
*ptr *= 2; // Multiply value in x by 2
ptr = &y; // Store the address of y in ptr
*ptr *= 2; // Multiply value in y by 2
ptr = &z; // Store the address of z in ptr
*ptr *= 2; // Multiply value in z by 2
cout << "Once again, here are the values of x, y, and z:\n";
cout << x << " " << y << " " << z << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
Here are the values of x, y, and z:
25 50 75
Once again, here are the values of x, y , and z:
50 100 150
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
3 Relationship Between Arrays and
Pointers
array names can be used as pointers, and
vice-versa.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 5
// This program shows an array name being dereferenced
// with the * operator.
#include <iostream.h>
void main(void)
{
short numbers[] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
cout << "The first element of the array is ";
cout << *numbers << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
The first element in the array is 10
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Figure 3
numbers[0] numbers[1] numbers[2] numbers[3] numbers[4]
numbers
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Figure 4
numbers[0] numbers[1] numbers[2] numbers[3] numbers[4]
numbers (numbers+1) (numbers+2) (numbers+3) (numbers+4)
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 6
// This program processes the contents of an array. Pointer
// notation is used.
#include <iostream.h>
void main(void)
{
int numbers[5];
cout << "Enter five numbers: ";
for (int count = 0; count < 5; count++)
cin >> *(numbers + count);
cout << "Here are the numbers you entered:\n";
for (int count = 0; count < 5; count++)
cout << *(numbers + count)<< " ";
cout << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output with Example Input
Enter five numbers: 5 10 15 20 25 [Enter]
Here are the numbers you entered:
5 10 15 20 25
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 7
// This program uses subscript notation with a pointer and
// pointer notation with an array name.
#include <iostream.h>
void main(void)
{
float coins[5] = {0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0};
float *floatPtr; // Pointer to a float
int count; // array index
floatPtr = coins; // floatPtr now points to coins array
[Link](2);
cout << "Here are the values in the coins array:\n";
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Program continues
for (count = 0; count < 5; count++)
cout << floatPtr[count] << " ";
cout << "\nAnd here they are again:\n";
for (count = 0; count < 5; count++)
cout << *(coins + count) << " ";
cout << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
Here are the values in the coins array:
0.05 0.1 0.25 0.5 1
And here they are again:
0.05 0.1 0.25 0.5 1
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 8
// This program uses the address of each element in
the array.
#include <iostream.h>
#include <iomanip.h>
void main(void)
{
float coins[5] = {0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0};
float *floatPtr; // Pointer to a float
int count; // array index
[Link](2);
cout << "Here are the values in the coins array:\n";
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Program continues
for (count = 0; count < 5; count++)
{
floatPtr = &coins[count];
cout << *floatPtr << " ";
}
cout << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
Here are the values in the coins array:
0.05 0.1 0.25 0.5 1
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
4 Pointer Arithmetic
Some mathematical operations may be
performed on pointers.
◦ The ++ and – operators may be used to
increment or decrement a pointer variable.
◦ An integer may be added to or subtracted
from a pointer variable. This may be
performed with the +, - +=, or -= operators.
◦ A pointer may be subtracted from another
pointer.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 9
// This program uses a pointer to display the contents
// of an integer array.
#include <iostream.h>
void main(void)
{
int set[8] = {5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40};
int *nums, index;
nums = set;
cout << "The numbers in set are:\n";
for (index = 0; index < 8; index++)
{
cout << *nums << " ";
nums++;
}
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Program continues
cout << "\nThe numbers in set backwards are:\n";
for (index = 0; index < 8; index++)
{
nums--;
cout << *nums << " ";
}
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
The numbers in set are:
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
The numbers in set backwards are:
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
5 Initializing Pointers
Pointers may be initialized with the
address of an existing object.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
6 Comparing Pointers
If one address comes before another
address in memory, the first address is
considered “less than” the second. C++’s
relational operators maybe used to
compare pointer values.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Figure 5
An array of five integers
array[0] array[1] array[2] array[3] array[4]
0x5A00 0x5A04 0x5A08 0x5A0C 0x5A0F
(Addresses)
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 10
// This program uses a pointer to display the contents
// of an integer array.
#include <iostream.h>
void main(void)
{
int set[8] = {5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40};
int *nums = set; // Make nums point to set
cout << "The numbers in set are:\n";
cout << *nums << " "; // Display first element
while (nums < &set[7])
{
nums++;
cout << *nums << " ";
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program continues
cout << "\nThe numbers in set backwards are:\n";
cout << *nums << " "; // Display last element
while (nums > set)
{
nums--;
cout << *nums << " ";
}
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output
The numbers in set are:
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
The numbers in set backwards are:
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
7 Pointers as Function Parameters
A pointer can be used as a function
parameter. It gives the function access to
the original argument, much like a
reference parameter does.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 11
// This program uses two functions that accept addresses of
// variables as arguments.
#include <iostream.h>
// Function prototypes
void getNumber(int *);
void doubleValue(int *);
void main(void)
{
int number;
getNumber(&number) // Pass address of number to getNumber
doubleValue(&number); // and doubleValue.
cout << "That value doubled is " << number << endl;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program continues
// Definition of getNumber. The parameter, Input, is a pointer.
// This function asks the user for a number. The value entered
// is stored in the variable pointed to by Input.
void getNumber(int *input)
{
cout << "Enter an integer number: ";
cin >> *input;
}
// Definition of doubleValue. The parameter, val, is a pointer.
// This function multiplies the variable pointed to by val by
// two.
void doubleValue(int *val)
{
*val *= 2;
}
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Program Output with Example Input
Enter an integer number: 10 [Enter]
That value doubled is 20
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Program 12
// This program demonstrates that a pointer may be used as a
// parameter to accept the address of an array. Either subscript
// or pointer notation may be used.
#include <iostream.h>
#include <iomanip.h>
// Function prototypes
void getSales(float *);
float totalSales(float *);
void main(void)
{
float sales[4];
getSales(sales);
[Link](2);
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program continues
[Link](ios::fixed | ios::showpoint);
cout << "The total sales for the year are $";
cout << totalSales(sales) << endl;
}
// Definition of getSales. This function uses a pointer to accept
// the address of an array of four floats. The function asks the
// user to enter the sales figures for four quarters, and stores
// those figures in the array. (The function uses subscript
// notation.)
void getSales(float *array)
{
for (int count = 0; count < 4; count++)
{
cout << "Enter the sales figure for quarter ";
cout << (count + 1) << ": ";
cin >> array[count];
}
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program continues
// Definition of totalSales. This function uses a pointer to
// accept the address of an array of four floats. The function
// gets the total of the elements in the array and returns
that
// value. (Pointer notation is used in this function.)
float totalSales(float *array)
{
float sum = 0.0;
for (int count = 0; count < 4; count++)
{
sum += *array;
array++;
}
return sum;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output with Example Input
Enter the sales figure for quarter 1: 10263.98 [Enter]
Enter the sales figure for quarter 2: 12369.69 [Enter]
Enter the sales figure for quarter 3: 11542.13 [Enter]
Enter the sales figure for quarter 4: 14792.06 [Enter]
The total sales for the year are $48967.86
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
8 Focus on Software Engineering:
Dynamic Memory Allocation
Variables may be created and destroyed
while a program is running.
A pointer than contains the address 0 is
called a null pointer.
Use the new operator to dynamically
allocate memory.
Use delete to dynamically deallocate
memory.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program 13
// This program totals and averages the sales figures for any
// number of days. The figures are stored in a dynamically
// allocated array.
#include <iostream.h>
#include <iomanip.h>
void main(void)
{
float *sales, total = 0, average;
int numDays;
cout << "How many days of sales figures do you wish ";
cout << "to process? ";
cin >> numDays;
sales = new float[numDays]; // Allocate memory
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Program continues
if (sales == NULL) // Test for null pointer
{
cout << "Error allocating memory!\n";
return;
}
// Get the sales figures from the user
cout << "Enter the sales figures below.\n";
for (int count = 0; count < numDays; count++)
{
cout << "Day " << (count + 1) << ": ";
cin >> sales[count];
}
// Calculate the total sales
for (count = 0; count < numDays; count++)
{
total += sales[count];
}
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Program continues
// Calculate the average sales per day
average = total / numDays;
// Display the results
[Link](2);
[Link](ios::fixed | ios::showpoint);
cout << "\n\nTotal sales: $" << total << endl;
cout << "average sales: $" << average << endl;
// Free dynamically allocated memory
delete [] sales;
}
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
Program Output with Example Input
How many days of sales figures do you wish to process? 5
[Enter]
Enter the sales figures below.
Day 1: 898.63 [Enter]
Day 2: 652.32 [Enter]
Day 3: 741.85 [Enter]
Day 4: 852.96 [Enter]
Day 5: 921.37 [Enter]
total sales: $4067.13
average sales: $813.43
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
9 Focus on Software Engineering:
Returning Pointers from Functions
Functions can return pointers, but you
must be sure the object the pointer
references still exists.
You should only return a pointer from a
function if it is:
◦ A pointer to an object that was passed into
the function as an argument.
◦ A pointer to a dynamically allocated object.
Starting Out with C++, 3rd Edition
