pointer functions

[kurz7]

when do you use a declartion or a function which has a pointer out the front.
i.e

*function( int *, int n ) ?

Why cant you just use function( int *, int n )?

ive seen a few of these *functions in many of the string functions located in the string.h

when else can u use this notation and why?

cheers

[quzah]

I'm not sure I exactly know what you're asking. Do you mean:

char *myfunction( void );

Why is there a * at the front? If so, that means that that function is returning a pointer rather than void or by value.

A good example of this is 'malloc'. Malloc locates a block of memory for you, and gives you an address to it. Then you use it how you need.

Quzah.

[Prelude]

>when else can u use this notation and why?
It refers to the return value of the function:

int foo(void); /* Returns an int */
int *bar(void); /* Returns a pointer to int */

If it helps you to remember, you can also place the * just after the type instead of just before the identifier:

int* bar(void);