C++ Pointer to String Array
string var[5] friends = {“Amy”,”John”,”Joyce”,”Deszrene”,”Samson”};
string *ptr;ptr = &friends[2]; // pointer to the 3rd position in array
std::cout << “Value of friends position 3 = ” << *ptr << std::endl;
C++ string pointers to specific positions in the string array
Other good articles on c++ pointers to string arrays are over here.
Feel Free to Copy the code below and test it online or on your local C++ Compiler/Editor
// C++ pointer to String Array #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main () { string *ptr; string *ptr1; string miniAlpha[5] = {"Mary","had","a","little","lamb"}; ptr = &miniAlpha[0]; ptr1 = &miniAlpha[1]; cout << "Value of miniAlpha position 0 = " << *ptr << endl; cout << "Value of miniAlpha position 1 = " << *ptr1 << endl; return 0; }

Point that pointer to an Address of the same type
This magic happens in line 9 and 10 when we make the 2 pointers equal to the beginning address of the string array.
Just remember a pointer points to an address and since the pointer has a type, that same pointer string pointer knows that if the programmer is smart he/she has pointed to a string. Yes, it is possible to get a pointer to point to something that it shouldn’t but let’s not go there yet.
Value of miniAlpha position 0 = Mary
Value of miniAlpha position 1 = had
Homework — Pointing to a position in the String Array
- 1) The last example above is super short. Please memorize
- 2) From memory rewrite the code above into your c++ compiler/editor
- 3) Add a 3rd pointer and point it to the ‘Lamb’ in the array
- 4) Add a 3rd cout statement and refer to the 3rd pointer
Next Lesson 10, Vectors & Arrays