* (dereference operator)

Description

Dereferencing is one of the features specifically for use with pointers. The asterisk operator

*

p

*p

p

Example Code

1int *p;       // declare a pointer to an int data type
2    int i = 5;
3    int result = 0;
4    p = &i;       // now 'p' contains the address of 'i'
5    result = *p;  // 'result' gets the value at the address pointed by 'p'
6                  // i.e., it gets the value of 'i' which is 5

Notes and Warnings

Pointers are one of the complicated subjects for beginners in learning C, and it is possible to write the vast majority of Arduino sketches without ever encountering pointers. However for manipulating certain data structures, the use of pointers can simplify the code, and knowledge of manipulating pointers is handy to have in one’s toolkit.

See also

• Pointers