Char array basics in c

Question

char p[3][6]={{'a','b','c','\0'},{'d','e','f','\0'},{'g','h','i','\0'}};
char s[3][6]={"abc","def","ghi"};

Are they both same? If different please explain what way and how it is stored in memory?

The difference is the first one doesn't compile: ideone.com/QrxZff. — Oliver Charlesworth
– Oliver Charlesworth, Commented Jun 2, 2013 at 2:12
he meant char p[3][6]={{'a','b','c','\0'},{'d','e','f','\0'},{'g','h','i','\0' }}; I think. — Elazar
– Elazar, Commented Jun 2, 2013 at 2:14
@OliCharlesworth That's because you're too strict: C89 compiles it just fine, but it produces garbage output. — Sergey Kalinichenko
– Sergey Kalinichenko, Commented Jun 2, 2013 at 2:19
@dasblinkenlight: That's not C89, that's just lack of -Wall... — Oliver Charlesworth
– Oliver Charlesworth, Commented Jun 2, 2013 at 2:21
Now the question has been edited, the answer is: they are the same. — Oliver Charlesworth
– Oliver Charlesworth, Commented Jun 2, 2013 at 2:22

Eric Undersander · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-02 03:06:48Z

3

They're the same in memory. Here in the VS 2010 debugger, I cast to char* so I can inspect the first 18 raw bytes of p and s: screenshot of program in Visual Studio

answered Jun 2, 2013 at 3:06

Eric Undersander

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Comments

icktoofay · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-02 02:52:19Z

2

There is no difference in any of two methods, Try the following code and see the result
Result for both variables p and s are same.

In first definition you've provided string in the form of array of characters by using Single Quotes.
Whereas in Second definition you've provided direct string by Double quotes - Both are same

  #include<stdio.h>
    void main()
    {
        int i,j=0;
        char p[3][6]={{'a','b','c','\0'},{'d','e','f','\0'},{'g','h','i','\0'}};
        char s[3][6]={"abc","def","ghi"};
        for(i=0;i<3;i++)
        {
            printf("%s",p[i]);
            printf("\n");
        }
        for(i=0;i<3;i++)
        {
            printf("%s",s[i]);
            printf("\n");
        }
    }

Here is the result:

First 2-d string is : abc        def     ghi
Second 2-d string is :abc        def     ghi

edited Jun 2, 2013 at 2:52

icktoofay

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answered Jun 2, 2013 at 2:36

user2273202

3 Comments

Elazar Over a year ago

but, char *c[3] = { "abc", "def", "ghi" }; is different. Worth noting.

user2273202 Over a year ago

Yes, If you are talking about this pointer array to character, then you are right.

user1762571 Over a year ago

ya understood. thanks. what will happen if i dont give'\0' in the first statement

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