Pointer

[cnewey]

Hi all

I have a question regarding pointer. Hope someone can help me. Below are my codes, I have tagged:

=========================================

int main (int argc, const char * argv[]) {

if ( fp == NULL )
        DoError( "Couldn't open file!" ); //<<<<
}

void    DoError( char *message ) { // <<<<
    printf( "%s\n", message );
    exit( 0 );
}

=========================================

Looking at the //<<<< line of codes which I have tagged, can someone explain to me why void DoError (char *message) function requires a pointer (*message)?

Thanks and much appreciated

[Elkvis]

if you pass a char instead of a char pointer, you get one character instead of a string. printf handles a char pointer (when used with the %s placeholder) as a string. it starts at the first character, and prints each one until it gets to a '\0'

[manasij7479]

if you pass a char instead of a char pointer......'

Won't the compiler think that the value of the char is actually the address to the start of a string ? (...and give colourful results...)

[Elkvis]

Won't the compiler think that the value of the char is actually the address to the start of a string ? (...and give colourful results...)

yes, but if you pass a char, the function gets a char. what you do with it from there is your own problem

[cnewey]

Thank Elkvis for the explanation.