char pointer vs int pointer

Why is it legal to create a char pointer and assign it a value and not to do the same thing with a int pointer.

I know that when you declare a pointer you must tell it were to point, therefore the second line should give a compiler error but why doesn´t it generate an error on the first line???

Code:

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char *name="Smith";
int *number = 25;//Generates an error

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Thx in advance

The first line tells the compiler to create a string literal somewhere in memory and to point to the first cell of that array. The synatx for assigning a pointer to an array makes it clear:



int *pArray;

int array[10];

pArray = array;

...is the same as:

pArray = &array[0];

However, were you to do:

pArray = 5; //...illegal..assignment of pointer to integer...

...same as:

pArray = someNum; //...error..assignment of pointer to integer...


Yet:

pArray = &someNum; //...fine

I hope I haven't confused you!

k, get the point. You could say that an array and a pointer is "almost" the same thing, or do they just behave simelair?

Code:

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char *name = "Smith";
//char name[] = "Smith";

---

Thx in advance

char *name = "Smith";

I think this is an old notation and you're not supposed to use this.
It is replaced by char name[] = "Smith"; but the old notation is still supported.

Thx Monster, everything is clear now!!!!

The only difference that I know is that the old notation is a const char * and cannot be changed:

Code:

---

int main()
{
  char *s1 = "Smith";
  char s2[] = "Smith";

  s1[0] = 'A'; /* not valid */
  s2[0] = 'A'; /* valid */
  return 0;
}

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Quote:

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You could say that an array and a pointer is "almost" the same thing, or do they just behave simelair?

---

Almost, but not exactly. For instance, with an arrays name, you cannot increment it:

char string[100];
strcpy(string, "Some String...");

string++; //...absolutely illegal...

char *s = string;

while(*s != 0)
{
s++; //...legal
}