What is the output of the program ?

Question

  int main(){      char *ptr = "gateexam";      printf("%c\n", *&*&*ptr);      return 0;  }

(a) Compiler Error
(b) Garbage Value
(c) Runtime Error
(d) g

*please explain it.

Answer 1

$*$ is used for de-referencing and the operator $\&$ is used to get the address.

These operators cancel effect of each other when used one after another. We can apply them alternatively, any number of times.

For example,

$*$ptr gives us $``g"$ (It points to the first address).
$\&*$ptr gives the address of $g$ since $\&$ gives address.
$*\&*$ptr again gives us $``g"$.
$\&*\&*$ptr gives the address of $g$, and finally,
$*\&*\&*$ptr gives $``g"$

Comments

* is used for dereferencing.