Why does '(veg + i)' work but '(veg++)' does not?

Asked Nov 13 '17 at 15:44

Active Nov 13 '17 at 15:44

Viewed 99 times

I'm using Code::Blocks 16.01 on Raspbian Stretch for C. In the following program, when I un-comment the 'veg++' line, it doesn't run.

int main()
{
  char *veg[] =
    {
      "corn",
      "carrot",
      "pea"
    };

for(int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
    {
      puts(veg[i]); // this works
      puts(*(veg + i)); // this works
      //puts(*(veg++)); // this does not work
    }
return 0;
}

I get the build message: "....main.c|848|error: lvalue required as increment operand|"

Why is 'veg + 1' different from 'veg++'? It probably goes without saying I'm a beginner.

asked Nov 13 '17 at 15:44

NealTerminator

2

veg is an array. Maybe you must write i++ and not veg++ – Joe Taras Nov 13 '17 at 15:45
2

The reason the code does not compile is that it attempts to treat an array as if it were a pointer, which it is not. – Sergey Kalinichenko Nov 13 '17 at 15:47
veg++ is equivalent to veg = veg + 1 .You can't change the address of an array. – Martin Chekurov Nov 13 '17 at 15:50
Even if veg were a pointer (allowing your code to compile) I think it might act differently than you expect. – Yunnosch Nov 13 '17 at 17:45

Why does '*(veg + i)' work but '*(veg++)' does not?

0 Answers0

Why does '(veg + i)' work but '(veg++)' does not?