What is the fundamental difference between char* and char[] in C programming?

Understanding the Difference Between char* and char[]

When dealing with character data in C programming, the distinction between char* and char[] often sparks confusion. Understanding their differences is crucial for successful programming.

Consider the following two declarations:

<code class="c">char str[] = "Test";
char *str = "Test";</code>

char str[] = "Test";

This declaration defines a character array named str that holds a copy of the characters within the string literal "Test". The array owns and manages its contents, allowing for editing and manipulation.

char *str = "Test";

In contrast, this declaration creates a pointer named str that references the literal string "Test". The asterisk (*) indicates that str is a pointer variable. It doesn't own the string's contents but merely points to the first character of the string. The string "Test" is a constant, meaning its contents cannot be modified.

The key difference between char[] and char lies in ownership and mutability. char[] represents an array that owns its data and can be modified. char, on the other hand, represents a pointer that cannot modify the underlying data, as it points to a read-only string literal.

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