Changing Value Pointed by Pointers

Let’s take an example.

int* pc, c;
c = 5;
pc = &c;
c = 1;
printf("%d", c);    // Output: 1
printf("%d", *pc);  // Ouptut: 1

We have assigned the address of c to the pc pointer.

Then, we changed the value of c to 1. Since pc and the address of c is the same, *pc gives us 1.

Let’s take another example.

int* pc, c;
c = 5;
pc = &c;
*pc = 1;
printf("%d", *pc);  // Ouptut: 1
printf("%d", c);    // Output: 1

We have assigned the address of c to the pc pointer.

Then, we changed *pc to 1 using *pc = 1;. Since pc and the address of c is the same, c will be equal to 1.

Let’s take one more example.

int* pc, c, d;
c = 5;
d = -15;

pc = &c; printf("%d", *pc); // Output: 5
pc = &d; printf("%d", *pc); // Ouptut: -15

Initially, the address of c is assigned to the pc pointer using pc = &c;. Since c is 5, *pc gives us 5.

Then, the address of d is assigned to the pc pointer using pc = &d;. Since d is -15, *pc gives us -15.

Example: Working of Pointers

Let’s take a working example.

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
   int* pc, c;
   
   c = 22;
   printf("Address of c: %p\n", &c);
   printf("Value of c: %d\n\n", c);  // 22
   
   pc = &c;
   printf("Address of pointer pc: %p\n", pc);
   printf("Content of pointer pc: %d\n\n", *pc); // 22
   
   c = 11;
   printf("Address of pointer pc: %p\n", pc);
   printf("Content of pointer pc: %d\n\n", *pc); // 11
   
   *pc = 2;
   printf("Address of c: %p\n", &c);
   printf("Value of c: %d\n\n", c); // 2
   return 0;
}

Output

Address of c: 2686784
Value of c: 22

Address of pointer pc: 2686784
Content of pointer pc: 22

Address of pointer pc: 2686784
Content of pointer pc: 11

Address of c: 2686784
Value of c: 2