Thread: Dynamic Array Passed to a function by Reference

Just a quick question to satisfy my curiosity:

Well, I managed to create an array using dynamic memory allocation (MxN), as shown:

matrix1=(double **)malloc(M*sizeof(double*)){
for (i1=0;i1<1;i1++)
matrix1[i1]=(double*)malloc(N*sizeof(double)); }

and say I have already filled up the contents of this array completely and correctly, and that I can free up the memory I've reserved later on

i then pass this array to a function by calling the function through this function call:
print_elements(&M,&N,matrix1);

with the function being called being a simple printing function:

void print_elements(int* M, int* N, double** print){
int rows_p, cols_p;
printf("\n\nYour matrix is: \n");
for(rows_p=0;rows_p<*M;rows_p++){
for(cols_p=0;cols_p<*N;cols_p++){
printf("%.2lf ", print[rows_p][cols_p]); }
printf("\n");}}

my question is, did I pass the array matrix1 by reference? I know that arrays are passed to a function by default by reference but I just wanted to know if it is indeed the case and if I even did it the way it really should be done?

appreciate any help

As Bayint already pointed out, technically no. It can be argued that in C something "like" passing by reference can be achieved but purists will argue (rightfully so IMO) that this is not the case.

C doesn't have references so it doesn't make sense from that point of view. There is a significant difference between a reference and a pointer and C++ makes that difference very clear. A reference is an alias for something and that something must exist in order for the reference to exist. A pointer is just a type of data that stores the address of some data.

On another note, don't cast malloc in C.

I see, thanks for that question-answer thing link, seem really informative, the lot of it.

another thing, how come I shouldn't use malloc (I assume that also includes realloc and the rest) in C, kindly enlighten me

edit: one more thing, how come my function (and the program i just checked with) worked when i declared it with
void print_elements(int* M, int* N, double** print)
instead of void print_elements(int* M, int* N, double print[][no. of columns]) ----I assume this is the one I needed to use had I not use dynamic allocation

Originally Posted by patriots21

another thing, how come I shouldn't use malloc (I assume that also includes realloc and the rest) in C

You should not use dynamic memory allocation if you don't need it because it creates more work for you to do, and along with more work comes more mistakes.

Originally Posted by patriots21

I see, thanks for that question-answer thing link, seem really informative, the lot of it.

another thing, how come I shouldn't use malloc (I assume that also includes realloc and the rest) in C, kindly enlighten me

edit: one more thing, how come my function (and the program i just checked with) worked when i declared it with
void print_elements(int* M, int* N, double** print)
instead of void print_elements(int* M, int* N, double print[][no. of columns]) ----I assume this is the one I needed to use had I not use dynamic allocation

I didn't say you shouldn't use malloc, I said you shouldn't cast malloc.

See: Cprogramming.com FAQ > Casting malloc

As for your functions that change would make no difference regardless of whether memory was malloc-ed or statically allocated. I suggest you read a bit more about passing arrays as function parameters in C.

Cprogramming.com FAQ > Pointers And Arrays (intermediate)

heey thanks for all the links, already halfway though the second one, really appreciate it
edit: and my bad for missing the one about malloc