what are pointers

[nitin daharwal]

what is a pointer in C?
how to use pointers ?
where pointers are used?
how to use pointers with array,linked list,stack and structures?

[adarshshukla]

pointers are the technique to directly access and manipulate the data storage area. pointers can be used to create dynamic arrays which can store the data without any bounds or limit of the space requried without wasting the memory by predefining the memory size as in arrays.
pointers can be used for creating stacks, linkedlist, dynamic arrays, structures, trees, b-tree, etc.

[Sandhya.Kishannag]

Pointer is a user defined data type to create special types of variables that hold the address of primitive data types like char, int, float, double or user defined data type like function, pointer etc. or derived data type like array, structure, union.

Pointers are used to implement generic functions like qsort(), callbacks, state machines and anywhere else run time binding of a function is required.

Pointers are used to create dynamic data structures.
To pass and handle variable parameters passed to functions.
To access information stored in arrays. (Especially if you work with links).

Pointer to array of functions is a pointer which is pointing to an array which contents are pointers to a function.
A pointer which is pointing to a structure is know as pointer to structure.