Pointer/Offset Notation

Built-in array element b[3] can alternatively be referenced with the pointer expression

The 3 in the preceding expression is the offset to the pointer. When the pointer points to the beginning of a built-in array, the offset indicates which built-in array element should be referenced, and the offset value is identical to the subscript. This notation is referred to as pointer/offset notation. The parentheses are necessary, because the precedence of * is higher than that of +. Without the parentheses, the preceding expression would add 3 to a copy of *bPtr’s value (i.e., 3 would be added to b[0], assuming that bPtr points to the beginning of the built-in array).

Just as the built-in array element can be referenced with a pointer expression, the address

can be written with the pointer expression