dynamic arrays int printing problem - maybe not a valid memory cell - arrays

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int find_lenght(int *arrr){
int i = 0;
while(arrr[i] != '\0'){
i++;
}
return i;
}
void init_array(int *arrr){
arrr=(int*)malloc(1*sizeof(int));
printf("New element:");
int lenght = find_lenght(arrr);
scanf("%d", &arrr[lenght]);
printf("Lenght = %d\n",lenght);
printf("Array elements are:\n");
for(int i = 0; i <= lenght; i++) {
printf("%d,", arrr[i]);
}
}
void print_array(int *arrr){
printf("Array elements are:\n");
int lenght = find_lenght(arrr);
for(int i = 0; i == lenght; i++) {
printf("%d,", arrr[i]);
}
}
int main() {
int *arr = NULL;
init_array(arr);
print_array(arr);
}
I don't know what am i missing here.
My point is to fill in and then print dynamic array
Also my taught is it's not filling the way it should, so it hasn't anything to print.

Your arr pointer in main is never assigned because your init_array assign the address of the allocated memory (the return value of malloc) to the input parameter arrr, which is, a local variable.
You have mainly two solutions to properly achieve what you want to do. The first one (the better one in my point of view), by making your init_array returning the allocated memory address to be assigned:
int* init_array()
{
int* retval = (int*)malloc(1*sizeof(int));
// ...
return retval;
}
int main()
{
int *arr = init_array(); //< assign arr with returned value
}
Another way is to make your init_array function taking a pointer to a pointer, so the function can assign this pointer:
void init_array(int** arrr)
{
(*arrr) = (int*)malloc(1*sizeof(int));
// ...
}
int main()
{
int* arr = NULL;
init_array(&arr); //< pass reference to arr
}

You need to pass the pointer to pointer to int to change passed pointer. Your for loop is invalid in print function. You need also to set the sentinel value yourself.
size_t find_length(const int *arrr)
{
size_t i = 0;
if(arrr)
while(arrr[i]) i++;
return i;
}
void add_element(int **arrr, int element)
{
size_t length = find_length(*arrr);
int *tmp = realloc(*arrr, (length + 2) * sizeof(**arrr));
if(tmp)
{
*arrr = tmp;
(*arrr)[length] = element;
(*arrr)[length + 1] = 0;
}
}
void print_array(const int *arrr)
{
printf("Array elements are:\n");
size_t lenght = find_length(arrr);
for(size_t i = 0; i < lenght; i++)
{
printf("arrr[%zu] = %d\n", i, arrr[i]);
}
}
int main(void) {
int *arr = NULL;
add_element(&arr, 5);
add_element(&arr, 15);
add_element(&arr, 25);
add_element(&arr, 35);
print_array(arr);
}
https://godbolt.org/z/drKej3KT5

the array on your main function is still NULL. the better way to do is just call the print_array() function after you initialize it. you just simply put print_array(arrr) inside init_array() and after the for loop statement.

The line
int lenght = find_lenght(arrr);
may invoke undefined behavior, because find_length requires its argument to be a pointer to the first element of a null-terminated int array. However, the content of the memory pointed to by arrr is indeterminate, because it has not been initialized. Therefore, it is not guaranteed to be null-terminated.

Related

Accessing a 2D array which is returned as a pointer in C

I'm trying to return a 2D array from a function. I've tried some ways mentioned in some websites. But they are helpless. So finally I'd assigned a pointer to the 2D array and returned it from the function. And the sample function's code is given below
float *test(int *x, int *y)
{
static float res[2][3];
float[] temp = {1,2,3};
for(int i=0;i<3;i++) res[0][i] = temp[i];
for(int i=0;i<3;i++) res[1][i] = temp[i]*-1;
float *ptr = &res[0][0];
return ptr;
}
Now I have a problem that how to access this 2D array in main function to print all of it's elements.
Could anyone give a solution? Thanks in advance:)
You have to go through dynamic allocation malloc is used for this.
Consider this code:
float **result = NULL; // if you want to return 2D array you need double pointer
result = (float **)malloc(2 * sizeof(float *)); // allocating assuming that the allocating will not fail otherwise it return NULL
for(int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
result[i] = (float *)malloc(3 * sizeof(float));
for(int i = 0; i < 3; i++) result[0][i] = i;
for(int i = 0; i < 3; i++) result[1][i] = i * -1;
return result;
Important part is also in main function where you should deallocate the memory to prevent memory leak. Is's done through free function and you should do this revere to the allocation to free all the memory you allocated.
for(int i=0;i<3;i++) free(result[i]); //done in main
free(result);
Declare the return type of your function properly, then just return the static array:
float (*test(int *x, int *y))[3]
{
static float res[2][3];
float temp[] = {1,2,3};
for(int i=0;i<3;i++) res[0][i] = temp[i];
for(int i=0;i<3;i++) res[1][i] = temp[i]*-1;
return res;
}
Note that returning a static array has the problem that all calls to the function will (re)use that same array, so the second call will clobber the array returned by the first call. You could instead malloc the array:
float (*test(int *x, int *y))[3]
{
float (*res)[3] = malloc(2 * sizeof *res);
float temp[] = {1,2,3};
for(int i=0;i<3;i++) res[0][i] = temp[i];
for(int i=0;i<3;i++) res[1][i] = temp[i]*-1;
return res;
}
but then the caller will need to remember to call free on the returned pointer when it is no longer needed.
You could return a pointer to static variable:
char (*modify(char input))[3]
{
static char variable[3][3];
variable[0][0] = input;
variable[1][1] = input+1;
return variable;
}
int main() {
char (*result)[3] = modify(a);
}
However, this is not a reentrant function. Another option is using dynamic memory (i.e. malloc), but memory leaks are quite common when returning pointers to allocated memory.
Another approach it's to pass the array to the function, already allocated, so you don't have to be worried about releasing memory or using statics:
void modify(char variable[][3], char input) {
variable[0][0] = input;
variable[1][1] = input+1;
}
int main(void) {
char result[3][3];
modify(result,a);
}
A better approach it's to create a typedef to highlight the purpose, length and making easier working with it:
typedef struct { char x[3][3]; } my2D_t;
void modify(my2D_t *variable, char input) {
variable->x[0][0] = input;
variable->x[1][1] = input+1;
}
int main() {
my2D_t result;
char a = 1;
modify(&result,a);
}
Also returning by value as tstanisl noticed. It creates another my2D_t, but the compiler will probably end up with something similar to the previous idea for the sake of optimization known as the "as-if" rule:
typedef struct { char x[3][3]; } my2D_t;
my2D_t modify(char input) {
my2D_t variable;
variable.x[0][0] = input;
variable.x[1][1] = input+1;
return variable;
}
int main() {
char a = 1;
my2D_t result = modify(a);
}

Passing array of structs with reference - segmentation fault

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct X {
char surname[30];
int deg;
};
void read_record(struct X** a, int size){
for (int i = 0;i < size; i++){
a[i]->deg = 0;
}
}
int main(){
int n = 10;
struct X *container = (struct X*)malloc(sizeof(struct X) * n);
read_record(&container, n);
}
I created a 1D array of size n, then I passed it by reference to the function read_record. However, when I execute the program, there is a segmentation fault. What is the problem?
EDIT:
As a next step, I want to reallocate the array of 10 elements in the function with size of 20. That's why I want to send the array as a reference. If I did it in main then I would write:
container = realloc(container, (n + 10) * sizeof(Struct X));
How can I do this in the function?
container is already a pointer, you don't need to pass the address-of the pointer, instead:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct X {
char surname[30];
int deg;
};
void read_record(struct X *a, size_t size)
{
for (size_t i = 0; i < size; i++) {
a[i].deg = 0;
}
}
int main(void)
{
size_t n = 10;
struct X *container = malloc(sizeof(struct X) * n);
read_record(container, n);
}
also, prefer size_t to store the number of allocated objects.
Nitpick: read_record doesn't seem a good name for a function that modifies the contents of the records.
EDIT: As a next step, I want to reallocate the array of 10 elements in the function with size of 20. (in the function). That's why I want to send the array as a reference.
Same approach but returning a reallocated container:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
struct X {
char surname[30];
int deg;
};
struct X *read_record(struct X *a, size_t size)
{
struct X *new = realloc(a, sizeof(struct X) * size);
if (new != NULL)
{
for (size_t i = 0; i < size; i++) {
new[i].deg = 0;
}
}
return new;
}
int main(void)
{
size_t n = 10;
struct X *container = malloc(sizeof(struct X) * n);
container = read_record(container, n * 2);
if (container == NULL)
{
fprintf(stderr, "Can't read record\n");
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
}
As a next step, I want to reallocate the array of 10 elements in the function with size of 20. (in the function). That's why I want to send the array as a reference.
The pointer is passed by value, so to save the changes and have them usable outside the function scope, after the function ends, i.e. in main, a pointer to pointer must be the argument, and the address of the pointer must be passed, your overall assessment is correct.
Your implementation, however, is not correct, here's how you shoud do it:
Live demo
void read_record(struct X **a, int size) //double pointer
{
*a = realloc(*a, sizeof **a * (size + 10)); //reallocate memory for 20 ints
if (*a == NULL)
{
perror("malloc");
}
for (int i = 0; i < size + 10; i++) //assing new values
{
(*a)[i].deg = 1;
}
}
int main()
{
int n = 10;
struct X *container = malloc(sizeof *container * n); //original allocation
//the pointer now has space for 10 ints
if (container == NULL)
{ //check allocation errors
perror("malloc");
}
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) //assign values
{
container[i].deg = 0;
}
read_record(&container, n); //pass by reference
//the pointer now has space for 20 ints
}
Alternatively you can return the pointer instead, refering to David Ranieri's answer.
The first function parameter has the pointer to pointer type struct X**. So dereferencing the parameter a you will get a pointer of the type struct X*. Now you may apply the subscript operator that yields lvalue of the type struct X..
That is the function definition will look like
void read_record(struct X** a,int size){
for (int i=0;i<size;i++){
( *a )[i].deg = 0;
}
}
Or this statement
( *a )[i].deg = 0;
may be substituted for this statement
a[0][i].deg = 0;
On the other hand, there is no great sense to declare the first parameter as having the type struct X**. The function can look simpler as for example
void read_record(struct X* a,int size){
for (int i=0;i<size;i++){
a[i].deg = 0;
}
}
and be called like
read_record( container, n );
When you call read_record you pass a pointer to a pointer to the first element of an array of X structures.
But inside the read_record you treat it as a pointer to the first element of an array of pointers to X structures (i.e. as an array of pointers to X). There's a subtle but very important difference here.
If you want to emulate pass-by-reference for the pointer variable, you need to dereference it inside the read_record to get the original pointer (and remember that then you have an array of objects, not pointers):
(*a)[i].deg = 0;
Double pointer is the problem. The code should be:
void read_record(struct X* a,int size){ // Check the change
for (int i=0;i<size;i++){
a[i]->deg = 0;
}
}
int main(){
int n = 10;
struct X *container=(struct X*)malloc(sizeof(struct X)*n);
read_record(container,n); // Check the change
}

Returning a pointer to an array of structs

Let's say I have to create an array of structs that is allocated on the heap and return a pointer that points to this array of structs.
typedef struct Pair {
int x;
int y;
} Pair;
Pair** foo(int n, int m, int length)
{
Pair* arr = malloc(sizeof(*arr) * length);
for (int i = 0; i < length; ++i) {
arr[i].x = n++;
arr[i].y = m++;
}
return &arr;
}
When I compile a program containing this function, it warns me that I am returning the address of a local variable. I assume this is because the pointer is initialised within the function (i.e. on the stack), therefore it counts as a local variable.
When I compile it, ignoring this warning, and run it anyway, the program crashes when the returned pointer is accessed.
I have tried allocating the pointer dynamically:
Pair** ptr = malloc(sizeof(**ptr));
ptr = &arr;
...
return ptr;
but the program still crashes when this pointer is accessed. How can I create this array within a function and return a pointer to this array so that it can be safely accessed?
This array is initialized on the stack but the pointer (arr) is a local variable, so the caller, main, cannot access it. You do not need to use the address of the pointer. You can access the array with the pointer itself.
Pair* foo(int n, int m, int length)
{
Pair* arr = malloc(sizeof(*arr) * length);
for (int i = 0; i < length; ++i) {
arr[i].x = n++;
arr[i].y = m++;
}
return arr;
}
If you want an array of structs, the code:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
typedef struct {
int x;
int y;
} Pair;
static Pair* foo(int n, int m, int length) {
Pair* arr = malloc(sizeof(*arr) * length);
for (int i = 0; i < length; ++i) {
arr[i].x = n++;
arr[i].y = m++;
}
return arr;
}
int main(void) {
Pair *z = foo(111, 222, 3);
for (int i = 0; i < 3; ++i)
printf("z[%d]= { %d, %d }\n", i, z[i].x, z[i].y);
free(z);
return 0;
}
gives the output:
z[0]= { 111, 222 }
z[1]= { 112, 223 }
z[2]= { 113, 224 }
If you want an pointer to an array of structs, you can change your function signature from Pair** to be Pair*.
If you still want an pointer to an array of pointers, then allocate memory for a Pair struct for each index of arr.
for(int i = 0; i < length; ++i){
arr[i] = malloc(sizeof(Pair));
...
}
Instead of returning &arr, you can declare arr as
Pair** arr = malloc(sizeof(Pair*) * length);
Because arr is a local variable, it will be free when foo end. So you don't have access for arr after. To solve this you should declare array pointer in heap:
Pair** foo(int n, int m, int length)
{
Pair ** arr = (Pair**)malloc(sizeof(Pair*));
*arr = malloc(sizeof(Pair) * length);
for (int i = 0; i < length; ++i) {
(*arr)[i].x = n++;
(*arr)[i].y = m++;
}
return arr;
}

Error with the malloc command in C

my Excercice is to initalise space from the heap in function1(); and to create an array there. In the main I have to print the array. What have I done wrong?
CODE
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int functionOne(int size);
int main()
{
int size = 0,i;
scanf("%d",&size);
int *arrsize = functionOne(size);
printf("rueckgabe %d",arrsize);
int arr [*arrsize];
arr[0] = 7;
arr[1] = 2;
arr[2] = 3;
arr[3] = 4;
arr[4] = 5;
for(i=0; i<size; i++)
{
printf("[%d]",arr[i]);
}
}
int functionOne(int size)
{
int *arr;
arr = NULL;
arr = malloc(size * sizeof(int));
return arr;
}
The thing is on the line printf("rueckgabe %d",arrsize); you are printing the address returned by other function - that too using wrong format specifier.
Suppose you allocated memory for 4 int using the other function functionOne and the memory of the allocated chunk is being returned - now when you do *arrsize you are basically accessing the 0th positional int value. But as it is uninitialized - the value of it is indeterminate.
Earlier you were declaring VLA with uninitialized value. This is undefined behavior. Also there is no meaning printing the contents of the variable length array unless you initialize them (i.e.,printf("[%d]",arr[i]);).
Return value of the function functionOne is int but you are returning int*.
There are many other things you can follow in the code, like correcting the indentation - checking the return value of malloc and changing the signature of main from int main() to int main(void).
I have added some demo code showing whatever I have mentioned above:
Edit:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int* functionOne(int size);
int main(void)
{
int size = 0;
if( scanf("%d",&size)!= 1){
fprintf(stderr,"Error in input\n");
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
if( size <= 0){
fprintf(stderr,"Error in input [size]\n");
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
int *arr = functionOne(size);
for(size_t i = 0; i < size; i++){
arr[i]=i;
}
for(size_t i = 0; i<size; i++){
printf("arr[%zu] = %d \n",i,arr[i]);
}
free(arr);
return 0;
}
int* functionOne(int size)
{
int *arr;
arr = malloc(sizeof(int)*size);
if( arr == NULL && size > 0){
perror("malloc");
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
return arr;
}

using pointers to display content of array

I am stuck about how to use pointers to display array. I can easily do this with array using for loop but I am interested in knowing how to use via pointers and I am stuck how to calculate starting and ending point of an array.
Below is the sample program
void printArray(int *ptr);
{
//for statement to print values using array
for( ptr!=NULL; ptr++) // i know this doesn't work
printf("%d", *ptr);
}
int main()
{
int array[6] = {2,4,6,8,10};
printArray(array);
return 0;
}
The checking for NULL trick only works for NULL terminated strings. For a numeric array you'll have to pass in the size too.
void printArray(int *ptr, size_t length);
{
//for statement to print values using array
size_t i = 0;
for( ; i < length; ++i )
printf("%d", ptr[i]);
}
void printString(const char *ptr);
{
//for statement to print values using array
for( ; *ptr!='\0'; ++ptr)
printf("%c", *ptr);
}
int main()
{
int array[6] = {2,4,6,8,10};
const char* str = "Hello World!";
printArray(array, 6);
printString(str);
return 0;
}
You have several options:
You could pass the size of your array into the function.
You could have a special "sentinel" value (e.g. -1) as the last element of your array; if you do this, you must ensure that this value cannot appear as part of the array proper.
When an array is passed as a parameter to a function, it is decayed into a pointer to the first element of the array, loosing the information about the length of the array. To handle the array in the receiving function (printArray) requires a way to know the length of the array. This can be done in two ways:
A special termination marker used for the last element. For strings this is NULL. In your example it could be -1, if that value will never occur in the real data.
Passing a length parameter to printArray.
This would give the following for statements:
//Marker value.
for(;*ptr != -1; ++ptr)
printf("%d", *ptr);
//Length parameter
for(int i = 0; i < length; ++i)
printf("%d", *(ptr+i));
The function needs to know the size of the array. There are two common approaches:
Pass the actual size to the function, e.g.
void printArray(int *ptr, size_t size)
{
int *const end = ptr + size;
while( ptr < end ) {
printf("%d", *ptr++);
}
}
int main()
{
int array[6] = {2,4,6,8,10};
printArray(array, sizeof(array) / sizeof(array[0]) );
return 0;
}
Explicitly provide a sentinel 0 (or other appropriate) element for the array:
void printArray(int *ptr);
{
//for statment to print values using array
for( *ptr != 0; ptr++) // i know this doesn't work
printf("%d", *ptr);
}
int main()
{
int array[6] = {2,4,6,8,10, NULL};
printArray(array);
return 0;
}
Here is the answer buddy (Non-tested)...
void printArray(int arr[]);
{
int *ptr;
for(ptr = &arr[0]; ptr <= &arr[5]; ptr++)
{
if(ptr != null)
printf("%d", *ptr);
ptr++; // incrementing pointer twice, as there are ‘int' values in array which
//are of size 2 bytes, so we need to increment it twice..
}
}
int main()
{
int array[6] = {2,4,6,8,10};
printArray(array);
return 0;
}

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