How to access an array within a struct using a pointer

Question

I want to access and element of an array that is within a struct using a pointer how do I do it ?

int int_set_lookup(struct int_set * this, int item){

Can you be a bit more specific? It may be as simple as `this->arrayName[item]`, but it's hard to tell what you're trying to do. — danfuzz, Oct 23 '13 at 18:27
Read [Pointer to structure](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18254623/pointer-to-structure/18254652#18254652) — Grijesh Chauhan, Oct 23 '13 at 18:27
I'm warning you: giving a name `this` to one of your structs is a very bad idea. — Andrejs Cainikovs, Oct 23 '13 at 18:31

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 23 '13 at 18:28

1

Assuming the call is setup and called like this:

struct int_set this[10];
int_set_lookup(this, 5);

the function int_set_lookup() can directly lookup the item:

int int_set_lookup(struct int_set* this, int item)
{
    /* where x is the item in the struct you want to lookup */
   return this[item].x;

    /* or, if int_set has an array member y, this accesses
       the 0th element of y in the item'th element of this */
    return this[item].y[0];
}

answered Oct 23 '13 at 18:28

Chad

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I think OP wants to access `array within struct`, you are answering `array of struct`. – Grijesh Chauhan Oct 23 '13 at 18:32
Oh you are suggesting both, but two return statements are confusing in answer – Grijesh Chauhan Oct 23 '13 at 18:32

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 23 '13 at 18:28

1

I assume the array contained within the struct is "a" and p is the pointer to the struct:

p->a[3]

answered Oct 23 '13 at 18:28

Tarik

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score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Oct 23 '13 at 18:35

You have to use arrow operator ->

For example , p is a pointer to a struct s1 , then

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {        
   struct s{
    int a[10]; // array within struct 
   };    
  struct s s1 ;
  s1.a[0] = 1 ; // access array within struct using strct variable 
  struct s *p = &s1 ;  // pointer to struct
  printf("%d", p->a[0]);//via pointer to struct, access 0th array element of array member

  return 0;
}

a[0] is accessed by p->a[0] ;

How to access an array within a struct using a pointer

3 Answers3