Array of pointers to array of strings, can only access first element of array

Question

Hi im trying to access strings stored in 2 different arrays using an array of pointers using the code:


typedef char (*p)[2][20]; //pointer to array of strings


    ///create dictionaries
    char names[2][20] = {"jack","john"};
    char items[2][20] = {"car"};
    
    p pointer[2]= {&names,&items};
    
    print(pointer[x][y])

replacing x and y with x=1 y=0 prints car, while x=0 y=0 prints jack but im not sure how to print john. using x=0 y=1 prints ( @x, whilst x=1 y=1 also prints jack and x=1 y=2 also prints ( @x. I was wondering how to access john?

Welcome to SO. Please take the tour, read How to Ask and edit your post to include an minimal reproducible example. — jwdonahue
– jwdonahue, Commented Jan 27, 2021 at 23:27
Since these are strings it would perhaps be more convenient to use arrays of char* instead of 2D arrays. — Lundin
– Lundin, Commented Jan 28, 2021 at 9:00

Barmar · Accepted Answer · 2021-01-27 23:27:26Z

1

pointer[x] is a pointer to an array.

You need to dereference it to get the array of strings, then index into that.

printf("%s\n", (*pointer[x])[y]);

answered Jan 27, 2021 at 23:27

Barmar

789k57 gold badges554 silver badges669 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Array of pointers to array of strings, can only access first element of array

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related