Master C Language Pointers
1h 33mAdvanced2020-04-21
Authors
Dan Gookin
Creator, Teacher, and Technology Writer with 20+ years of experience
Course details
Struggling with the concept of pointers in C programming? You're not alone. While pointers can be defined simply as variables that hold a memory location, even experienced coders are often intimidated by this powerful part of the C language. In this advanced course, instructor Dan Gookin shines a spotlight on pointers, starting with the basics and then building upon that foundation. Dan covers the essentials of obtaining, storing, and using addresses; memory allocation and buffers; and linked lists. He then digs into some more advanced concepts, including how to send a pointer to a function, sort pointers, and use pointers to manage memory.
Skills covered
CProgramming LanguagesOpen SourceSoftware DevelopmentDeep Dive (X:Y)
Concepts
Introduction
- Conquer your pointer fears
- Compiling the code
Pointer Basics
- Understanding pointers
- Exploring pointer tools
- Using pointers as function arguments
- Working with function pointers
- Challenge - Obtain an address
- Solution - Obtain an address
Memory Allocation and Buffers
- Comparing arrays and pointers
- Allocating storage
- Exploring allocation functions
- Accessing the buffer
- Working with pointers in structures
- Creating structure pointers
- Saving pointers and buffers
- Challenge - Saving and reading a record
- Solution - Saving and reading a record
Linked Lists
- Understanding a linked list
- Implementing a linked list
- Removing structures
- Adding structures
- Creating a double-linked list
- Saving a linked list
- Challenge - Manage a linked list
- Solution - Manage a linked list
Advanced and Crazy Pointers
- Understanding pointers to pointers
- Sending a pointer to a function
- Sorting pointers
- Managing memory
- Creating pointers to functions
- Challenge - Manipulate a pointer array
- Solution - Manipulate a pointer array