How can I display a pointer address in C#?

Question

I've not done any pointers since I've been programming in C# - and my C++ days were long ago. I thought I should refresh my knowledge and was just playing around with them because of another question on here. I understand them all okay, but I can't figure out how to write the pointer's address to the console...

char c = 'c';
char d = 'd';
char e = 'e';

unsafe
{
    char* cp = &d;
    //How do I write the pointer address to the console?
    *cp = 'f';
    cp = &e;
    //How do I write the pointer address to the console?
    *cp = 'g';
    cp = &c;
    //How do I write the pointer address to the console?
    *cp = 'h';        
}
Console.WriteLine("c:{0}", c); //should display "c:h";
Console.WriteLine("d:{0}", d); //should display "d:f";
Console.WriteLine("e:{0}", e); //should display "e:g";

Using Console.WriteLine(*cp); gives me the current value at the pointer address... what if I want to display the actual address?

@Lazarus - You don't think that was the first thing I tried? LOL. Give me some credit, I'd already tried everything obvious before I came asking questions on here ;) — BenAlabaster, Jan 13 '10 at 15:00

score 25 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 13 '10 at 14:55

25

Console.WriteLine(new IntPtr(cp));

answered Jan 13 '10 at 14:55

Darin Dimitrov

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To correctly work with pointers within C# take usage of the IntPtr class – Oliver Jan 13 '10 at 15:01

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 13 '10 at 14:57

4

Remember that with managed code the garbage collector is free to move things around on you. Make sure to pin your object down if your in a situation where the address matters.

answered Jan 13 '10 at 14:57

Joel Coehoorn

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Thanks Joel, I hadn't considered that yet. Like I said, I was just playing, I haven't had any real requirement to use pointers in my C# projects. – BenAlabaster Jan 13 '10 at 14:58

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 22 '15 at 14:14

1

char* cptr;
char achr = 'a';
cptr = &achr;
string strcptr = Convert.ToString((long)cptr, 16);
Console.WriteLine("Ox{0} is the char ptr hex address", strcptr);

edited Aug 22 '15 at 14:14

bwest

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answered Aug 22 '15 at 12:27

Alan

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woops, meant vhar not float in console write message. – Alan Aug 22 '15 at 12:28
string strcptr = Convert.ToString((long)cptr, 16); Console.WriteLine("Ox{0} is the char ptr hex address", strcptr); – Alan Aug 22 '15 at 13:37

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 13 '10 at 14:55

0

Convert your pointer to byte type.

answered Jan 13 '10 at 14:55

Yevhen

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MarcioAB · Answer 5 · 2017-06-26T14:18:47.353

0

char c = 'c';

unsafe
{
  Console.WriteLine("0x{0:x}", (ulong)&c);
  Console.WriteLine($"0x{(ulong)&c:x}");
}

This will display something like ... 0x123abc (twice)

edited Jun 26 '17 at 14:18

answered Jun 26 '17 at 13:54

MarcioAB

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How can I display a pointer address in C#?

5 Answers5

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