What is a multilevel pointer in c?

Question

void main(){
   int i=320;
   char *ptr=(char *)&i;
   printf("%d",*ptr); 
}

Please provide your explanation also?

Answer 1

Multilevel pointers: A pointer is pointer to another pointer which can be pointer to others pointers and so on is know as multilevel pointers. We can have any level of pointers.

Examples of multilevel pointers in c:

(1) What will be output if you will execute following code?

 #include<stdio.h>
 int main(){
 int s=2,*r=&s,**q=&r,***p=&q;
 printf("%d",p[0][0][0]);
return 0;
 }

Output: 2

Explanation:

 As we know p[i] =*(p+i)
 So,
 P[0][0][0]=*(p[0][0]+0)=**p[0]=***p
 Another rule is: *&i=i
 So,
 ***p=*** (&q) =**q=** (&r) =*r=*(&s) =s=2

(2) What will be output if you will execute following code?

 #include<stdio.h>
 #define int int*
 int main(){

    int *p,q;
    p=(int *)5;
   q=10;
   printf("%d",q+p);
   return 0;
 }

Output: 25

Explanation: If you will see intermediate file you will find following code:

 #include<stdio.h>
 void main(){

 int **p,q;
 p=(int **)5;
 q=10;
 printf("%d",q+p);
 return 0;
 }

Explanations:

Here q pointer and p is a number.
In c
Address + number = Address

So,
New address = old address + number * Size of data type to which pointer is pointing.
= 5 + 10 * sizeof (*int)
= 5+10*2 = 25.

Note. We are assuming default pointer is near. Actually it depends upon memory model.

Answer 2

It is nothing but pointer to a pointer and another pointer to that pointer and so on is known as multilevel pointer.