Init array in a function

Question

I am absolutely new to C and I tried to initialize a array in a function.

But it doesn't work, because if I want to print the values in the main method I always get a Segmentation fault.

 static void array(int *i)
{
    int j = 0;
    i = (int *) malloc(5 * sizeof (int));
    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
        i[j] = j;
    }

    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
        printf("Hello: %d\n", i[j]);
    }
}

/* Main entry point */
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    int j;
    int *i = NULL;

    array(i);
    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
        printf("Hello: %d\n", i[j]);
    }
    return 0;
}

Would be nice if someone could fix the code and could explain how it works.

i = (int *) malloc(5 * sizeof (int)); only affects the copy of the pointer the function got, not the pointer in the caller. Let me find a duplicate. — Daniel Fischer
– Daniel Fischer, Commented Oct 22, 2012 at 19:12
In other words: the pointer is passed as value, not as reference, and thus doesn't get updated. The value for i got its original value when you exit array() function. — m0skit0
– m0skit0, Commented Oct 22, 2012 at 19:14
But I think we have to cast the result of malloc the be compatible with c++. — MeJ
– MeJ, Commented Oct 22, 2012 at 19:43

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:22:28Z

3

static void array(int **i)
{
    int j = 0;
    *i = malloc(5 * sizeof (int));
    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
        (*i)[j] = j;
    }

    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
        printf("Hello: %d\n", (*i)[j]);
    }
}

/* Main entry point */
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    int j;
    int *i = NULL;

    array(&i);
    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
        printf("Hello: %d\n", i[j]);
    }
    return 0;
}

You are passing a pointer by value into array, so what you need to do is pass a pointer to your pointer instead, then set/use that.

As for why you shouldn't cast the result of a malloc, see: Do I cast the result of malloc? and Specifically, what's dangerous about casting the result of malloc?

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:22

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Oct 22, 2012 at 19:14

hexist

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5 Comments

MeJ Over a year ago

Lets say that we want to copy a other array int this one: how would i work: memcpy(i, j, 5 sizeof (int)); Why do I have to use *i and not &i in this function?

hexist Over a year ago

in array i is a pointer to your i in main, so to refer to that i in main, you have to use *i.

hexist Over a year ago

As for your memcpy question, lookup memcpy, it expects two pointers and a size to copy, just make sure you pass it the i in your main (either by dereferencing i in array or doing the memcpy in main.). You also need your second argument to be a pointer as well, so using j doesn't make sense since j is an integer.

Lundin Over a year ago

Remove the superfluous, dangerous cast of malloc's return value and I'll upvote this. I know it is there in the OP's code, but we shouldn't teach anyone to do that.

hexist Over a year ago

Done, with a note about why casting malloc is bad

farmdve · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-22 19:23:10Z

1

In order to allocate memory to a variable from within a function, you must pass a pointer to a pointer as the function argument, dereference the pointer and then allocate the memory.

or in pseudo-code

function(int **i)
{
    *i = malloc...
}
int *i = NULL;
function(&i);

This is one of the ways to do it. You could also return the pointer which malloc returns. And, from the material I've read, it's a good practice to NOT cast the return type of malloc.

edited Oct 22, 2012 at 19:23

answered Oct 22, 2012 at 19:13

farmdve

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