An Uncommon representation of array elements in C/C++

In C, array elements can be accessed in several ways. While the most common method is using the subscript operator (array[i]), we can also use pointer arithmetic to access elements in an uncommon but valid representation.

Syntax

*(array + index)  // Equivalent to array[index]

Example: Pointer Arithmetic Array Access

This example demonstrates how to access array elements using pointer arithmetic instead of the traditional subscript notation −

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int array[5] = {7, 7, 7, 6, 6};
    
    printf("Array elements using pointer arithmetic: ");
    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
        printf("%d ", *(array + i));
    }
    printf("\n");
    
    return 0;
}

Array elements using pointer arithmetic: 7 7 7 6 6 

Comparison of Access Methods

How It Works

When you declare an array, the array name acts as a pointer to the first element. The expression *(array + i) adds i to the base address and dereferences it to get the value at that location.

Conclusion

While *(array + i) is a valid way to access array elements in C, the traditional array[i] notation is preferred for better readability and maintainability. Understanding pointer arithmetic helps grasp how arrays work internally.