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C Subtracting Pointers: Differencing Pointer in C Programming Language

This document discusses subtracting two pointer variables in C. Subtracting two pointers gives the total number of objects between them. The difference indicates how far apart the two pointers are. A sample C program demonstrates subtracting two pointers (ptr1 and ptr2) that point to an integer. The output of ptr2 - ptr1 is 2, as both pointers point to integers, and the difference is the number of integer objects between them.

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Deepak Negi
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45 views

C Subtracting Pointers: Differencing Pointer in C Programming Language

This document discusses subtracting two pointer variables in C. Subtracting two pointers gives the total number of objects between them. The difference indicates how far apart the two pointers are. A sample C program demonstrates subtracting two pointers (ptr1 and ptr2) that point to an integer. The output of ptr2 - ptr1 is 2, as both pointers point to integers, and the difference is the number of integer objects between them.

Uploaded by

Deepak Negi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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C subtracting pointers

In the previous chapter we have learnt about subtracting the integer value from the pointer
variable. In this chapter we will be computing the difference between two pointer variables.

Differencing Pointer in C Programming Language:

1. Differencing Means Subtracting two Pointers.

2. Subtraction gives the Total number of objects between them .

3. Subtraction indicates “How apart the two Pointers are ?”

C Program to Compute Difference Between Pointers:

#include<stdio.h>

int main()
{
int num , *ptr1 ,*ptr2 ;

ptr1 = &num ;
ptr2 = ptr1 + 2 ;

printf("%d",ptr2 - ptr1);

return(0);
}

Output :

 ptr1 stores the address of Variable num


 Value of ptr2 is incremented by 4 bytes
 Differencing two Pointers

Important Observations:

Suppose the Address of Variable num = 1000.

Statement Value of Ptr1 Value of Ptr2


int num , *ptr1 ,*ptr2 ;
Garbage Garbage

ptr1 = &num ;
1000 Garbage

ptr2 = ptr1 + 2 ;
1000 1004

ptr2 - ptr1
1000 1004

Computation of Ptr2 – Ptr1 :

Remember the following formula while computing the difference between two pointers –

Final Result = (ptr2 - ptr1) / Size of Data Type

Step 1 : Compute Mathematical Difference (Numerical Difference)

ptr2 - ptr1 = Value of Ptr2 - Value of Ptr1


= 1004 - 1000
= 4

Step 2 : Finding Actual Difference (Technical Difference)

Final Result = 4 / Size of Integer


= 4 / 2
= 2

1. Numerically Subtraction ( ptr2-ptr1 ) differs by 4

2. As both are Integers they are numerically Differed by 4 and Technically by 2 objects

3. Suppose Both pointers of float the they will be differed numerically by 8 and Technically by

2 objects

Consider the below statement and refer the following table –

int num = ptr2 - ptr1;

and
If Two Pointers are of Following Numerical Technical
Data Type Difference Difference

Integer 2 1

Float 4 1

Character 1 1

In the next chapter we will be Comparing two pointer variables in C Programming.

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