Difference Between char s[] and char *s in C Programming

Last update on December 20 2024 13:15:08 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

Difference Between char s[] and char *s in C with Examples

In C programming, char s[] and char *s are two ways to represent strings, but they have significant differences in how they allocate and manage memory. Understanding these differences is essential for effective string handling and memory management in C.

1. char s[]: Character Array

• Definition: char s[] declares a character array. The size is typically determined at the time of initialization.
• Memory Allocation: The array size is fixed once initialized, and memory is allocated on the stack (if it's a local variable).
• Modification: You can modify the contents of char s[], provided the array is not declared as const.
• Lifetime: The array exists within the scope where it’s defined.

Example: Using char s[]

In this example, s is an array that stores "Hello". Modifying s[0] to 'h' is allowed, as the array contents are stored directly in the stack memory for main().

Code:

#include <stdio.h> 
int main() {
    char s[] = "Hello";  // Creates a character array with size 6 (5 chars + '\0')
    s[0] = 'h';          // Allowed: Modifies the array contents
    printf("%s\n", s);   // Output: "hello"
    return 0;
}

Output:

hello

2. char *s: Character Pointer

• Definition: char *s declares a pointer to a character, typically pointing to a string literal or dynamic memory.
• Memory Allocation: Memory for char *s may be allocated on the heap (using malloc) or may refer to a string literal in read-only memory.
• Modification: If char *s points to a string literal (e.g., "Hello"), modifying it leads to undefined behavior. Only strings allocated in writable memory (e.g., with malloc) can be modified safely.
• Lifetime: The pointer itself is local, but the string literal or dynamically allocated memory may have a different lifetime.

Example: Using char *s with a String Literal

In this example, s points to a read-only string literal "Hello", so attempting to modify s[0] would lead to undefined behavior or a runtime error.

Code:

#include <stdio.h> 
int main() {
    char *s = "Hello";   // Pointer to a string literal (read-only memory)
    // s[0] = 'h';       // Uncommenting this line would cause undefined behavior
    printf("%s\n", s);   // Output: "Hello"
    return 0;
}

Output:

Hello

Example Comparison: char s[] vs char *s

Here’s a side-by-side comparison to clarify further:

Code:

#include <stdio.h> 
int main() {
    char s1[] = "Hello";  // Character array with local, modifiable storage
    char *s2 = "Hello";   // Pointer to string literal (read-only)

    s1[0] = 'h';          // Allowed: Modifies the character array
    printf("s1: %s\n", s1);  // Output: "hello"

    // s2[0] = 'h';       // Uncommenting causes undefined behavior, as s2 points to a string literal
    printf("s2: %s\n", s2);  // Output: "Hello"

    return 0;
}

Output:

s1: hello
s2: Hello

Key Differences

Summary:

• char s[] is ideal for mutable strings with fixed size and scope-limited storage.
• char *s is versatile, used for dynamic strings or read-only literals, but is restricted in mutability when pointing to literals.