An array of pointers stores multiple pointer values, with each element holding the address of an object. The pointer type determines the type of object each element can point to.

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    int a = 10;
    int b = 20;
    int c = 30;

    int *ptrs[3] = {&a, &b, &c};

    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
    {
        printf("%d\n", *ptrs[i]);
    }

    return 0;
}

Example Output #

10
20
30

Explanation #

The declaration:

int *ptrs[3];

creates an array containing three pointers to int. Each element can store the address of an integer object.

The initialization:

int *ptrs[3] = {&a, &b, &c};

stores the addresses of a, b, and c in the array.

The expression:

*ptrs[i]

dereferences the pointer at index i to access the integer value it points to.

Array of Pointers vs. Pointer to an Array #

Parentheses affect how the declaration is interpreted. In int *ptrs[3], the array subscript binds more tightly than the pointer declarator, so ptrs is an array of pointers.

An array of pointers is useful for storing addresses of separate variables, selecting among buffers, and managing arrays of strings. Each pointer must point to a valid object before it is dereferenced.