Comprehensive exercise: Pointers, Arrays, and Dynamic Memory in C++
Objective:
In this exercise, you will implement various features using pointers, arrays (as pointers), dynamic
memory allocation, and memory management. This will help you understand how pointers work,
how to manipulate arrays with pointers, and how to use dynamic memory effectively in C++.
Tasks:
1. Pointer Basics and Arithmetic:
• Declare an integer variable and a pointer to that variable.
• Use the pointer to modify the value of the variable and print both the pointer’s address and
the updated value.
• Create an array of integers and a pointer to its first element. Use pointer arithmetic to
traverse and print the elements of the array.
2. Pointer to Pointer:
• Declare an integer variable and a pointer pointing to its address.
• Create another pointer that stores the address of the first pointer (pointer to a pointer).
• Print the value of the integer through both levels of indirection.
3. Array as Pointers:
• Declare an array of integers and use a pointer to traverse and print the array elements.
Modify the values using pointer notation instead of array indexing, then print the updated
array.
4. Passing Pointers to Functions:
• Write a function that takes a pointer to an integer as a parameter and modifies the value of
the integer in the calling function. Call this function in main(), pass a pointer to an integer
variable, and print the value before and after the function call.
5. Dynamic Memory Allocation for 1D Array:
• Dynamically allocate memory for an array of integers using the new operator.
• Allow the user to input values into the array, print the array, and then release the allocated
memory using the delete[] operator.
6. Dynamic 2D Array Allocation:
• Dynamically allocate memory for a 2D array using pointers. Allow the user to define the
dimensions of the array and input values.
• Print the 2D array in matrix format and release the allocated memory once done.
7. Swapping Two Variables Using Pointers:
• Write a function to swap two integers using pointers. In main(), prompt the user to enter two
integers, call the function to swap them, and print the values after swapping.
8. Pointer and Const:
• Declare a pointer to a constant integer and a constant pointer to an integer.
• Try modifying the value of the variables in both cases and observe the compiler behavior.
Write comments in your code explaining why the behavior occurs.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
// Task 4: Function to modify integer using pointer
void modifyValue(int *p) {
*p += 10;
}
// Task 7: Function to swap two integers using pointers
void swap(int *a, int *b) {
int temp = *a;
*a = *b;
*b = temp;
}
int main() {
// Task 1: Pointer basics and arithmetic
int var = 20;
int *ptr = &var;
// Modify value using pointer and print address + value
cout << "Task 1: Pointer basics and arithmetic" << endl;
cout << "Address of var: " << ptr << endl;
cout << "Value of var: " << *ptr << endl;
*ptr = 30;
cout << "Updated value of var: " << *ptr << endl;
// Array and pointer arithmetic
int arr[5] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
int *arrPtr = arr; // Pointer to the first element of the array
cout << "Array elements using pointer arithmetic: ";
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
cout << *(arrPtr + i) << " ";
}
cout << endl << endl;
// Task 2: Pointer to pointer
int *ptr1 = &var;
int **ptr2 = &ptr1; // Pointer to pointer
cout << "Task 2: Pointer to Pointer" << endl;
cout << "Value of var through pointer to pointer: " << **ptr2 << endl << endl;
// Task 3: Array as pointers and modifying values
int *ptrArr = arr;
cout << "Task 3: Array elements using pointer notation: ";
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
cout << *(ptrArr + i) << " ";
}
cout << endl;
// Modify array values using pointer notation
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
*(ptrArr + i) *= 2;
}
cout << "Modified array elements: ";
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
cout << arr[i] << " ";
}
cout << endl << endl;
// Task 4: Passing pointer to a function
int number = 50;
cout << "Task 4: Passing pointer to a function" << endl;
cout << "Original number: " << number << endl;
modifyValue(&number);
cout << "Modified number: " << number << endl << endl;
// Task 5: Dynamic memory allocation for 1D array
cout << "Task 5: Dynamic memory allocation for 1D array" << endl;
int size;
cout << "Enter the size of the dynamic array: ";
cin >> size;
int *dynArr = new int[size];
cout << "Enter " << size << " values for the dynamic array: ";
for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
cin >> dynArr[i];
}
cout << "Values in the dynamic array: ";
for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
cout << dynArr[i] << " ";
}
cout << endl;
// Deallocate memory
delete[] dynArr;
// Task 6: Dynamic 2D array allocation
cout << endl << "Task 6: Dynamic 2D array allocation" << endl;
int rows, cols;
cout << "Enter number of rows and columns for 2D array: ";
cin >> rows >> cols;
// Dynamically allocate 2D array
int **matrix = new int *[rows];
for (int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
matrix[i] = new int[cols];
}
// Input values into 2D array
cout << "Enter values for the 2D array: " << endl;
for (int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < cols; j++) {
cin >> matrix[i][j];
}
}
// Print the 2D array
cout << "2D array values:" << endl;
for (int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < cols; j++) {
cout << matrix[i][j] << " ";
}
cout << endl;
}
// Deallocate memory for 2D array
for (int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
delete[] matrix[i];
}
delete[] matrix;
// Task 7: Swap two variables using pointers
cout << endl << "Task 7: Swap two variables using pointers" << endl;
int a, b;
cout << "Enter two integers: ";
cin >> a >> b;
cout << "Before swap: a = " << a << ", b = " << b << endl;
swap(&a, &b);
cout << "After swap: a = " << a << ", b = " << b << endl;
// Task 8: Pointer and const keyword
cout << endl << "Task 8: Pointer and const" << endl;
int constNum = 100;
const int *constPtr = &constNum; // Pointer to constant int
// Uncomment the line below to see the compilation error
// *constPtr = 200; // Error: Cannot modify value through pointer to const
int varNum = 500;
int *const constPtr2 = &varNum; // Constant pointer to int
*constPtr2 = 600; // Allowed: Changing value through constant pointer
cout << "Modified varNum: " << varNum << endl;
return 0;
}
