C function - Pass by value? Pass By Ref?

Hi Guys,

Look at the following code; Why doesnt it indicate whether its passed by val or pass by ref (by using the '&' operator?)? Or by default C is passed by ref?

Are there some default rules somehow?

Please advise

Code:

/*********************************************************************
 *
 * Purpose: Reverse characters in a string.
 * Author:  K&R
 * Date:    
 *
 *********************************************************************/

void reverse(char s[]);

main()
{
  char text[80]="martin";

  printf("string is %s\n", text);
  reverse(text);
  printf("string is %s\n", text);
}

void reverse(char s[])
{
  int c, i, j;
   
  for (i=0, j=strlen(s)-1; i < j;i++, j--)
  {
    c = s[i];
    s[i] = s [j];
    s[j] = c;
  }
}

C always passes by value. There is no such thing as by 'reference' in C. You can use pointers to pass the value of a variable's address, and dereference that to access a variable, simulating by 'reference', but it's still actually by value.

Arrays are always passed as pointers to their first element. So any array you pass to a function, if changes are made inside the function to it, will affect the actual array outside of the function.


Quzah.

Edit: Oops, too late, and I think you mean passes by value in the first sentence, Quzah :P

C is always, always pass by value.

When you pass an array to a function, you are actually passing the address of the first element, so in the above case, you are effectively passing &text[0], or the address of the letter 'm' in "martin". Because the function has the address, any modification to the array in the function is to the array that was passed.

oooh!

Alright. Understand!

Thanks!

>>C always passes by reference.
Dont mix beer and C.Afterall its beer effect