`char *string` vs. `char* string`: Which Declaration Style is More Logical?

Which Is More Logical: char string vs char string?

In C and C , the declaration of null-terminated strings can be specified in two ways:

1. char* string
2. char *string

Why Use char *string?

The format char *string is generally preferred because it provides clarity in indicating the pointer nature of string. The asterisk (*) directly follows the data type char, implying that string is a pointer to a character, not a character itself.

Why Use char* string?

The format char* string is also used to prevent ambiguity when declaring multiple variables. For instance, consider the following declaration:

char* string1, string2;

In this case, string1 is a character pointer, but string2 is interpreted as a single character because there is no asterisk (*) preceding it. To avoid this confusion, it is better to write:

char *string1, *string2;

This makes it evident that both string1 and string2 are character pointers.

Conclusion

While both notations are technically valid, the convention of using char *string is recommended to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretations in variable declarations. This practice is particularly beneficial when declaring multiple variables of different types, including pointers and non-pointers.

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