What is the Difference Between Pointer and Array?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a pointer and an array is their purpose and how they store data. Here are the key differences:
- Purpose: Arrays are used to store multiple values of the same data type in a single variable, while pointers store the address of another variable.
- Memory Block: When an array is created, a fixed size of the memory block is allocated, whereas pointers dynamically allocate memory.
- Initialization: Arrays can be initialized while defining them, but pointers cannot be initialized while defining them.
- Size: An array can hold a number of variables determined by its size, while a pointer can only store the address of one variable.
- Static vs. Dynamic: Arrays have a static nature, meaning their size and memory location are fixed at compile time, while pointers have a dynamic nature, meaning their memory location can change at runtime.
- Resizability: Arrays cannot be resized according to user requirements, while pointers can be resized at any point in time.
In summary, arrays are used for storing multiple values of the same data type, while pointers store the address of another variable. Arrays have a fixed memory block and are static, whereas pointers dynamically allocate memory and can change their memory location at runtime.
Comparative Table: Pointer vs Array
Here is a table highlighting the differences between pointers and arrays:
| Feature | Pointer | Array |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A pointer is a variable that holds the memory address of another variable. | An array is a data structure that represents a collection of elements of the same type stored in contiguous memory locations. |
| Memory Management | Pointers can be used for storing addresses of dynamically allocated arrays and for arrays that are not part of the program. | Arrays store a homogeneous collection of data, and their size can be decided by the programmer. |
| Syntax | Pointers are declared using the * operator before the pointer name, e.g., int *ptr.. |
Arrays are declared using square brackets [] after the array name, e.g., int arr[].. |
| Element Access | Pointer elements are accessed using the -> operator. |
Array elements are accessed using the [ ] operator. |
| Memory Address | An array name is not a pointer, but it can be initialized with a pointer to an array. | An array is a constant pointer, meaning its value cannot be updated to point anywhere else. |
Please note that these differences are based on general programming concepts and may vary slightly depending on the programming language used.
Read more:
- Pointer vs Reference
- Integer vs Pointer
- Arrays vs Linked Lists
- Arrays vs Arraylists
- Arraylist vs Vector
- Value Type vs Reference Type
- C vs C++
- ArrayList vs LinkedList
- Call by Value vs Call by Reference
- calloc vs malloc
- Stack vs Heap
- Static vs Dynamic Memory Allocation
- List vs Set
- Java vs C++
- Enumeration vs Iterator
- C vs Objective C
- CGH vs Array CGH
- Bubble Sort vs Insertion Sort
- Insertion Sort vs Selection Sort