Is an array name a pointer in C?
The array name is not a pointer, but it is frequently treated as one in many contexts. Let's analyze this issue through detailed explanations and examples.First, the array name represents the starting address of the array. In most expressions, the array name is parsed as a pointer to its first element. For example, if we define an integer array , the expression can be considered as a pointer to .However, the array name is not a pointer variable that can be arbitrarily changed to point to different locations like a regular pointer. The array name is a constant, meaning we cannot change its target in the same way as we change a pointer's target. For example, for the above array , you cannot write to change 's target, which is illegal.Additionally, the array name and pointer differ in certain specific operations. A key distinction is the application of the operator. For an array, returns the total number of bytes occupied by the entire array, whereas if is a pointer, only returns the number of bytes occupied by the pointer itself. For example, on a 32-bit system, if is the above array, results in (since the array contains 5 integers, each occupying 4 bytes), whereas if is a pointer to an integer, results in .In summary, although the array name is often treated as a pointer in many contexts, it is fundamentally not a true pointer variable. The array name is a constant representing the address of the first element of the array, whereas a pointer is a variable that can point to variables of any type. This subtle distinction is crucial when using and understanding data structures.