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Groups > comp.lang.c > #56978

Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures...

From Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures...
Date 2015-02-05 12:30 +0000
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <87mw4sa6cc.fsf@bsb.me.uk> (permalink)
References (1 earlier) <08f17b24-a4bb-4e3b-ba52-035287ab63a5@googlegroups.com> <ba44af53-b35b-4c7d-8f84-d25bf2ab9c59@googlegroups.com> <8d68369b-24e9-485a-aa58-07ed34a6aee9@googlegroups.com> <mauq74$684$1@dont-email.me> <mavh2f$72t$1@dont-email.me>

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Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> writes:

> On 05/02/2015 04:06, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>> On 05/02/15 03:41, jeffkrob16@gmail.com wrote:
>> <snip>
>>
>>  > With pointers being abstract as they are (passing addresses & not
>> values),
>>
>> Er, what? NO! Who told you that?
>>
>> Pointers are VALUES, and C is pass-by-value. You always pass values in
>> C. An address value is still a value. This is REALLY important. If you
>> don't get this right, your mental model of the interaction between
>> pointers and functions will be a complete mess.
>>
>> Pointers are values. Addresses are values. C functions take values. Always.
>
> If you need to use "*" or "->" on a parameter to get at the value
> you're really interested in, then I think it's reasonable to say that
> that value has effectively been via an address or reference.

I go much further.  I'd say it is absolutely the right way to say it.
And not just "effectively", but actually.  The desired value has been
obtained via an address.

That way you can be clear that C always passes by value.  Some of the
values that are passed (those that are address or pointer values) are
use to access *other* objects (better than saying values).

> But then C has this crazy thing where you can use [] on a parameter to
> get at the values of an array's elements without needing to use
> "*". How has that array (ie. the data in all the elements) been
> passed? It's definitely not by value!

The array has not been passed, so asking the question is certain to
confuse the learner no matter how you answer it.  Better to explain that
(a) C always passes by value; (b) arrays convert to pointers in almost
every case; and (c) a[b] means *(a+b).

-- 
Ben.

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Thread

Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... jeffkrob16@gmail.com - 2015-02-03 09:33 -0800
  Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-03 17:59 +0000
  Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-02-03 13:01 -0500
  Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-02-03 10:49 -0800
  Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <invalid@see.sig.invalid> - 2015-02-03 18:54 +0000
  Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... asetofsymbols@gmail.com - 2015-02-03 11:50 -0800
    Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... asetofsymbols@gmail.com - 2015-02-03 12:07 -0800
    Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2015-02-03 15:14 -0500
    Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-02-03 15:06 -0800
      Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... asetofsymbols@gmail.com - 2015-02-03 22:19 -0800
  Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-03 21:40 +0000
    Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... asetofsymbols@gmail.com - 2015-02-03 22:56 -0800
      Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... asetofsymbols@gmail.com - 2015-02-03 23:02 -0800
      Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... asetofsymbols@gmail.com - 2015-02-04 00:01 -0800
  Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... jeffkrob16@gmail.com - 2015-02-04 10:53 -0800
    Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-04 11:21 -0800
    Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-04 19:32 +0000
    Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-02-04 11:59 -0800
    Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... hormelfree@gmail.com - 2015-02-04 15:30 -0800
      Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... jeffkrob16@gmail.com - 2015-02-04 19:41 -0800
        Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-05 04:06 +0000
          Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-05 10:36 +0000
            Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-05 10:59 +0000
            Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-05 11:03 +0000
            Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-05 12:30 +0000
              Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-05 12:46 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-05 12:49 +0000
            Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... hormelfree@gmail.com - 2015-02-05 15:08 -0800
          Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-05 08:48 -0800
          Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... hormelfree@gmail.com - 2015-02-05 15:16 -0800
            Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-05 23:35 +0000
              Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... hormelfree@gmail.com - 2015-02-07 12:11 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-07 12:22 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-07 22:03 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-07 14:47 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-07 17:15 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-02-08 17:22 +1300
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-08 02:47 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-08 11:20 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-08 14:36 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-02-09 11:51 +1300
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-08 15:02 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2015-02-08 16:55 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-09 03:24 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-09 11:56 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-02-09 14:25 +0100
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-09 14:00 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-02-09 15:26 +0100
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-09 14:39 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-02-09 16:59 +0100
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... raltbos@xs4all.nl (Richard Bos) - 2015-02-09 16:01 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-09 13:39 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-02-09 09:46 -0500
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-09 14:50 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-09 08:22 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2015-02-09 13:24 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-09 16:03 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-09 11:01 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-09 21:54 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2015-02-09 19:22 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-10 11:34 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-10 14:15 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-10 00:38 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-10 09:21 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-02-10 22:24 +1300
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-10 09:25 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-10 09:03 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-10 17:12 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-10 09:56 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-10 18:12 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-10 11:24 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2015-02-10 20:18 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-10 09:16 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-10 22:12 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-11 02:58 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-10 19:00 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-11 07:56 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... David Thompson <dave.thompson2@verizon.net> - 2015-02-22 18:08 -0500
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-10 16:01 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-02-10 11:26 +1300
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-02-10 10:29 +0100
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-09 08:32 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-09 11:09 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2015-02-09 19:39 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Martin Shobe <martin.shobe@yahoo.com> - 2015-02-09 14:04 -0600
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-09 12:24 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-02-10 10:34 +0100
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-08 11:42 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-07 22:50 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-07 17:07 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-08 11:29 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-08 12:14 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-08 13:44 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-08 22:39 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-08 11:12 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-08 20:01 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-08 20:06 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-08 21:04 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-08 21:11 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-08 23:48 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-08 13:30 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2015-02-08 16:47 -0500
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-08 14:53 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-09 02:31 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-09 10:35 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-09 13:57 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-09 07:59 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2015-02-09 18:15 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-10 05:54 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-09 16:17 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-08 22:04 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-08 14:57 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-08 23:45 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-09 02:53 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-09 09:29 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-09 10:10 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-09 11:24 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2015-02-09 17:36 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-09 17:56 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-09 10:51 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-09 11:10 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-02-09 11:25 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-09 11:43 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-10 02:13 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-10 03:26 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... raltbos@xs4all.nl (Richard Bos) - 2015-02-09 21:18 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-02-09 23:11 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-08 12:10 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-08 11:18 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-02-08 19:27 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... hormelfree@gmail.com - 2015-02-09 15:00 -0800
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-09 16:00 -0800
        Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-02-05 02:49 -0800
          Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-05 11:16 +0000
          Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-02-05 09:00 -0800
            Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-06 00:29 +0000
              Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-02-05 19:20 -0600
              Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... "Charles Richmond" <numerist@aquaporin4.com> - 2015-02-06 16:15 -0600
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-07 00:57 +0000
              Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2015-02-07 01:40 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-07 08:22 +0000
                Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-02-07 12:06 +0000
            Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... John Bode <jfbode1029@gmail.com> - 2015-02-06 15:03 -0800
        Re: Fortran Guy Learning C - Structures... hormelfree@gmail.com - 2015-02-05 15:12 -0800

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