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C pointer application (http://www.c4learn.com/c-programming/c-pointer-applications/)
Q1 - which pointer require more space ? (http://www.c4learn.com/c-programming/which-pointer-
require-more-memory-space/)
Q2 - di erence constant to pointer and pointer to constant ? (http://www.c4learn.com/c-
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Add numbers using function pointer (http://www.c4learn.com/c-programming/c-add-two-numbers-
using-function-pointer/)
Pointer Home (http://www.c4learn.com/index/pointer-c-programming/)
C function pointer
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What is function Pointer ?
Function pointer : A pointer which keeps address of a function is known as function pointer.
[ Visit : Complete Reference Document for Function Pointer (http://www.c4learn.com/c-
programming/c-function-pointer-reference/) ]
Live Example :
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6/1/2019 C function pointer - C Programming - c4learn.com
#include<stdio.h>
void display();
int main()
{
void *(*ptr)();
ptr = &display;
(*ptr)();
return(0);
}
void display()
{
printf("Hello World");
}
Output :
Hello World
Explanation of C Snippet :
Consider normal program –
Now in the above program we have just called function display(), and we get output as “Hello
World”.
Consider Scenario using pointer , We should follow following 3 steps to use pointer to call function
–
1. Declare Pointer which is capable of storing address of function.
2. Initialize Pointer Variable
3. Call function using Pointer Variable.
Step 1 : Declaring Pointer
void *(*ptr)();
We are simply declaring a double pointer.
Write () symbol after “Double Pointer“.
void represents that , function is not returning any value.
() represents that , function is not taking any parameter.
Above declaration tells us ….
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6/1/2019 C function pointer - C Programming - c4learn.com
Declare Pointer variable that can store address of function which does not return anything
and doesn’t take any parameter
Step 2 : Initializing Pointer
ptr = &display;
This statement will store address of function in pointer variable.
Step 3 : Calling a function
(*ptr)();
using (*ptr)() we can call function display();
(*ptr)() = (*ptr)();
= (*&display)();
= (display)();
= display();
thus (*ptr)() is as good as calling function.
Declaration of Initialization of Calling Function
Requirement
Function Pointer Function Pointer using Pointer
Return Type : None
void *(*ptr)(); ptr = &display; (*ptr)();
Parameter : None
Return Type : Integer int result;
int *(*ptr)(); ptr = &display;
Parameter : None result = (*ptr)();
Return Type : Float float result;
float *(*ptr)(); ptr = &display;
Parameter : None result = (*ptr)();
Return Type : Char char result;
char *(*ptr)(); ptr = &display;
Parameter : None result = (*ptr)();
Example 1 : Function having two Pointer Parameters and return type as Pointer
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6/1/2019 C function pointer - C Programming - c4learn.com
#include<stdio.h>
char * getName(int *,float *);
int main()
{
char *name;
int num = 100;
float marks = 99.12;
char *(*ptr)(int*,float *);
ptr=&getName;
name = (*ptr)(&num,&marks);
printf("Name : %s",name);
return 0;
}
//-------------------------------------
char *getName(int *ivar,float *fvar)
{
char *str="www.c4learn.com";
str = str + (*ivar) + (int)(*fvar);
return(str);
}
Output :
.c4learn.com
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