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De-reference operator (*) In C Language
This operator is used to get the value at a given address. For example,*(2020) 10;
The value at address 2020 is 10, this is k’s value

The action of ‘de-referencing operator’ is just contrary to the action of referencing operator, this is also called ‘indirection operator’ as it changes the direction of control from location to another location within the program’s memory to access the required data,

Syntax : *addressable _expression;
  Example :
printf (“\n the value of k=%d”,*&k);	//output=10
  *&k -> *2020 -> 10
  *&k -> k -> 10

The reference operator (&) gives the address of ‘k’, whereas de-reference operator (*) gives value in that address, so finally it is ‘k’ value.

Declaration :

To differentiate ordinary variables from pointer variable, the pointer variable should proceed by called “value at address operator”. It returns the value stored at particular address. It is also called an indirection operator (symbol *).

Pointer variables must be declared with its type in the program as ordinary variables. Without declaration of a pointer variable we cannot use in the program.

A variable can be declared as a pointer variable and it points to starting byte address of any data type.

  Syntax : data type *pointer variable;

The declaration tells the compiler 3 things about variable p

a) The asterisk (*) tells that variable p is a pointer variable.

b) P needs a memory location.

c) P points to a variable of type data type.

Example :   int * p, v;
                    float *x;

In the first declaration v is a variable of type integer and p is a pointer variable. v stores value, p stores address In the 2nd declaration x is a pointer variable of floating point data type.

Pointer variables are initialized by p=&v, it indicates p holds the starting address of integer variable v.

Pointers

Let us assume that address of v is 1000.

This address is stored in p. Now p holds address of v, now *p gives the value stored at the address pointer by p i.e. *p=20.

IMPORTANT POINTS :

1. A pointer variable can be assigned to another pointer variable, if both are pointing to the same data type.

2. A pointer variable can be assigned a NULL value.

3. A pointer variable cannot be multiplied or divided by a constant.

Example : p*3 or p/3 where p is a pointer variable

4. C allows us to add integers to or subtract integers from pointers.

Example : p1+4, p2-2, p2-p1

If both p1, p2 are pointers to same way then p2-p1 gives the number of elements between p1, p2

5. Pointer variable can be incremented or decremented     p++ & p- -

The values of a variable can be released in to way

1. By using variable name

2. By using adders.

  Program : The following program is an example, to get a variable value by using pointer
#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
int k=10;
int *p;
p=&k;
printf(“\n *p=%d”,*p);
*p=20;
printf(“\n*p=%d”,*p);
printf(“\n k=%d”, k);
}
Output :

*p=10
*p=20
K=20