Array of pointers to Strings : Access issues

Question

I have the following :

char *testString[] = {"geeksforgeeks", "unsorted", "sunday", "just", "sss" , NULL};

I need to traverse this so I am using:

 char **a1 = testString;

So I need to understand what is happening here now.

What I understand :

a1 would hold the address of first index of testString.
*a1 = value at address of the first string.

< This is incorrect. *a = the first string on IDE>

**a1 = should be the first string.
*testString = the first string..

Where and why am I going wrong?

In C++, the string type is spelled std::string. Are you sure you are writing in C++ and not in some other language that has the capital C in its name? — n. m. could be an AI
– n. m. could be an AI, Commented Sep 19, 2015 at 17:10
@BhumiSinghal I don't trust anything than a minimal reproducible example that's shown in your question. As is, it's off-topic, period! — πάντα ῥεῖ
– πάντα ῥεῖ, Commented Sep 19, 2015 at 17:14
The name of languagge i am sure does not matter to people .. who know the answer .. so since you know the name of the language so well .. may be the implementation explaination as well too ? — Bhumi Singhal
– Bhumi Singhal, Commented Sep 19, 2015 at 17:14

ForceBru · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-19 17:15:31Z

1

In your code testString is an array of pointers to char which you can modify (eg. testString[0]="test"). While a1 is a pointer to pointer to char, which you cannot modify (you can make it point to something else but you can't modify the strings).

So, **a1 holds the whole array, so *a1 is the first string.

Moreover, you could have written char **testString={"one string", "another string"} if you don't need to change testString.

Here you are a live example.

answered Sep 19, 2015 at 17:15

ForceBru

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