Pointer Vs. Array: Find the Difference Between Pointer to an Array and Array of Pointers
Both of these have a very close relationship in the C language, but there is a fundamental difference between Pointer to an Array and Array of Pointers. In this article, we will discuss the same. But let us first know a bit more about each of them individually.
What is a Pointer to an Array?
The array pointer is an alternative name to a pointer to an array. We generally make use of this pointer for accessing the various components of any given array. The pointer ptr basically focuses on the 0th component of any given array. Likewise, one can easily declare a point that is capable of pointing to a whole array- rather than only a single array component.
What is an Array of Pointers?
It refers to an array of various pointer variables, also called the pointer arrays. One can easily create separate pointer variables pointing towards different ranges of values. And we can also create a single integer array of pointers pointing towards all the available values.
Difference Between a Pointer to an Array and Array of Pointers
Here is a list of the differences present between Pointer to an Array and Array of Pointers.
| Parameters | Pointer to an Array | Array of Pointers |
| Uses and Purposes | A user creates a pointer for storing the address of any given array. | A user creates an array of pointers that basically acts as an array of multiple pointer variables. |
| Alternative Names | It is alternatively known as an array pointer. | These are alternatively known as pointer arrays. |
| Allocation | One can allocate these during the run time. | One can allocate these during the compile time. |
| Initialization at Definition | You cannot initialize a pointer to the definition. | You can easily initialize an array at the definition level. |
| Nature | It is dynamic in nature. | It is static in nature. |
| Resizing | One can easily resize the allocated memory of a pointer later at any given time. | Once we declare the size of an array, we cannot resize it any time we want according to our requirements. |
| Type of Storage | A typical pointer variable is capable of storing only a single variable within. | The size of any given array decides the total number of variables that it can store within. |
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