Thread: pointers and arrays

  1. #1
    Registered User
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    Apr 2006
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    pointers and arrays

    hey i am trying to learn pointers and references.

    how can i pass an array of characters by reference to a function?

    Code:
    void funct(char *text)
    {
    	cout << *text << endl;
    	*text = 'c';
    }
    
    int main()
    {
    	char text;
    	cin >> text;
    	funct(&text);
    	cout << text << endl;
    	return 0;
    }
    this works with one character but i can't figure out how to make it work with an array

  2. #2
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    Arrays are automatically passed by reference. If you want to pass a null-terminated character array, you can make the function parameter char* text or char text[] since the size is determined by the terminating null character. For other arrays, you have to pass the size as a separate parameter, or as part of the array parameter: int arr[5].

    Of course, in C++ you should just use the C++ string class instead null-terminated character arrays, and vector (or some other container) instead of regular arrays.

  3. #3
    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
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    You wouldn't need to pass an array by reference. You already pass the array by pointer. Just use cin.get(), fill a character array, and pass that to funct. What happens after that will be dependant on what you're trying to do. You'd have to use a loop to fill the array with 'c'. Or use memset().

  4. #4
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    9
    that was simple lol

    thanks daved

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