an array of structs?

Question

I am trying to write up a string container for my string struct but it's not working. I feel like I've been showing everyone my code and expecting a simple answer to get me going but what I'd like is a tip or a few pointers to get me going. Right now I don't want this container to be able to hold anything else except a custom string that I wrote earlier, which is working fine by the way.

All the code is a simplified version of my real string struct because there's no need to post it; all we're dealing with is the string container.

header.h

typedef struct string string;

source.c

struct string {
    char *buffer;
    unsigned int size;
};

Would I do:

string ** array_of_strings;

or

string * array_of_strings;

then I want to do something like:

client.c

array_of_strings = (string *) malloc(0);

When I call malloc(0), I am wanting there to be array_of_strings[0] and if I realloc(1) I would like it to be array_of_strings[1].

Is there a better way to do this, because this isn't working?

When you say malloc(0) you are saying: "Allocate 0 bytes of space on the heap." You want to allocate at least sizeof(string). You also want to allocate the buffer that the string struct points to. — alxbl
– alxbl, Commented Nov 27, 2011 at 2:16
This is a duplicate, see stackoverflow.com/questions/2575921/array-of-structs-in-c — charstar
– charstar, Commented Nov 27, 2011 at 2:37
You cannot use the standard malloc() and realloc() functions as you show; you could write your own with the non-standard semantics you request (but you would have to use different names, such as str_malloc() and str_realloc()). Note that names starting with str and a lower-case letter are reserved for future extensions of the standard C library. — Jonathan Leffler
– Jonathan Leffler, Commented Nov 27, 2011 at 3:06

MByD · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-27 02:15:15Z

1

If you want to have an array of one string, you should allocate memory for one string:

string * array_of_strings;
array_of_strings = malloc(sizeof(string));

and then you may access array_of_strings[0].

If you will declare it as string ** you actually declare a pointer to pointer to string, not a pointer to string.

answered Nov 27, 2011 at 2:15

MByD

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6 Comments

evolon696 Over a year ago

how would i realloc and be able to access array_of_strings[1]?

MByD Over a year ago

array_of_strings = realloc(sizeof(string)*2);

evolon696 Over a year ago

what if im doing char string = (char) malloc(strlen(string) + 1) am i reserving bytes or array slots?

MByD Over a year ago

I does not fit to the struct at all.

evolon696 Over a year ago

btw when i use my string struct it has to be a pointer does that mean i use 2 pointers or still use 1 like mbyd said to? i need an array of pointer structs

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