HomeEducationGATE Notes- What are Pointers and Operators in C?

GATE Notes- What are Pointers and Operators in C?

In C, pointers are used to pass arguments by reference, access array elements, return multiple values, construct data structures with dynamic memory allocation, execute system-level programming where memory addresses are relevant, and many other things.

On the other hand, individual data elements are manipulated, and as a result, it is returned using an operator. Operands or arguments are the terms used to describe these elements. Special characters or keywords are used to represent operators. It is used to conduct arithmetical, logical, and relational operations, among others. When a programmer has to conduct a mathematical operation, they must employ operators. Operators are mostly used for mathematical and logical calculations.

What are Pointers in C?

In the C programming language, a pointer is a variable that holds the address of another variable. The type of this variable can be char, int, function, array, or any other pointer. The pointer’s size is determined by the architecture. A pointer in 32-bit architecture, on the other hand, is 2 bytes in size.

Consider the following example that defines a pointer that stores an integer’s address.

int x = 10;

int* p = &x; // Variable p of pointer type is pointing towards the address of the variable x of integer type.

Why do we use pointers in C?

1) A pointer is used to retrieve strings, trees, and other objects and is utilised with structures, arrays, and functions to minimise code and enhance speed.

2) Using the pointer, we can return several values from a function.

3) It allows you to access any memory address on the computer’s hard drive.

Why should I be interested in learning about pointers in C?

In C, pointers are significant because they allow you to control data in the computer’s memory, which can help you reduce the code and improve efficiency. To learn more on pointers in c, click here.

What are Operators in C?

A symbol that tells a compiler to perform certain mathematical or logical tasks is known as an operator. An operator is nothing more than a symbol for performing operations. There are many different sorts of operations, such as arithmetic, logical, bitwise, and so on.

Types of operators in C

The C programming language has a large number of built-in operators, including the following:

  • Arithmetic Operators
  • Relational Operators
  • Shift Operators
  • Logical Operators
  • Bitwise Operators
  • Ternary or Conditional Operators
  • Assignment Operator
  • Misc Operator

Why should I be interested in learning about operators in C?

Any programming language’s base is made up of operators. Operators can be thought of as symbols that aid in the execution of specified logical and mathematical computations on operands. To put it another way, an operator controls the operands. For example, the operator ‘+’ is used to add two numbers together, as shown below:

c = a + b;

The addition operator instructs the compiler to add the operands ‘a’ and ‘b’ together. Operators are necessary for the C programming language to work. To learn more about operators in c, click here.

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