I have a struct
typedef struct hash_entry_{
char *string;
void *data;
struct hash_entry *next;
}hash_entry, *p_entry;
I am referencing p_entry
later in my code like so,
p_entry *temp = table;
does this make temp a double-pointer since I am adding an extra *
before p_entry
. I am confused on the point of even adding p_entry
in my code when I can use hash_entry*
as a pointer to a struct of hash_entry_
type.
CodePudding user response:
does this make temp a double-pointer
Yes it does. But please use the term pointer-to-pointer, not to confuse things with double*
.
The manner of "Hungarian notation" and other confused styles where you add a p
in front of a type name to indicate that a pointer was hidden beneath it has been massively criticised over the years, the most well-known case is the Windows API. This is old, bad style that refuses to die.
In modern programming, there is a strong C programmer consensus that:
- Pointers should never be hidden underneath
typedef
because it's very confusing for everyone including the person who wrote the code, as you found out. - "Hungarian notation" and similar styles should not be used since they are confusing and dangerous.
You instinct of using hash_entry*
instead is sound.