pointer conversion problem

1)

Code:

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float f = 65.00f;
int * ip = (int*)&f;
printf("%i", *ip);

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prints garbage value instead. Why?
When i try to convert it double*, it prints 0.000000. I guess that it is because of the memory size difference of 4 bytes of float and 8 bytes of double.

When i try the similar between int* and char*, it converts fine, is it because of fact that C stores character as decimal equivalent?

2)

Code:

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int * ip = (int[]){1,2,3,4};
ip[2] = 5;

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workes fine. Why? Isn't it supposed to crash the program or cause so-called "undefined behaviour"?

Thank you

Quote:

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prints garbage value instead. Why?

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You've told the compiler and `printf' that the memory at location `*ip' and parameter is an `int'.

You are wrong.

The memory at location `&f' is a `float'.

Quote:

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When i try the similar between int* and char*, it converts fine, is it because of fact that C stores character as decimal equivalent?

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I'm sure it compiles fine. C and C++ compilers are happy to let you pretend almost anything you want to pretend.

I'm equally sure that it doesn't actually work as you think.

Quote:

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workes fine. Why?

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This isn't doing what you think.

This uses a bit of C that anonymously creates a placeholder array (The standard has specific wording for this construct, and it isn't "anonymous placeholder", but I can't be bothered to check.) and assigns the location of that placeholder to a pointer.

Quote:

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Isn't it supposed to crash the program or cause so-called "undefined behaviour"?

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This isn't undefined behavior where the compiler accepts this construct.

With that said, undefined behavior can result in almost anything.

It doesn't have to crash. The behavior is undefined. It is entirely possible it works in `main' but fails in a different function.

Soma

To clarify the above post:

The in-memory representation of a float bears no resemblance to the in-memory representation of an int.

So when you take a float, tell the compiler to read it like an int NO MATTER WHAT (that's what casts do and rarely give errors because if you're casting you should KNOW what you're doing and the computer CANNOT know what you're doing), and then print the result you end up with gobbledegook.

It's like giving someone a word in French and telling them it should be pronounced in English NO MATTER WHAT and then wondering what the hell "silver plate" means and why it means "please".

Thank you, i really appreciate it. So, it seems that in the second case, it would be equivalent to creating an array and making the pointer point to it?

I have already read many C Books back and forth. But, Which book should i read to learn things in such details?

Thank you

A classic book is the one of KERNIGHAN & RICHIE