How to Convert a 2D Array to a Pointer-to-Pointer in C?

Converting a 2D Array to Pointer-to-Pointer: Addressing Compatibility Differences

Converting a 2D array into a pointer-to-pointer structure demands attention to the fundamental differences in their memory layout. While a 2D array organizes elements in a rectangular grid, a pointer-to-pointer arranges them in a hierarchical tree-like fashion.

To address this disparity, a direct conversion is not feasible. Instead, an intermediate step is required to establish compatibility between the two structures. This intermediary involves creating an array of pointers that point to each row of the 2D array.

Consider the following example:

Activity solution[a][b];
Activity *mother = solution;

To convert this 2D array into a pointer-to-pointer structure, we introduce an array of pointers:

Activity *solution_rows[a] = { solution[0], solution[1] /* and so on */ };
Activity **mother = solution_rows;

Now, we can access elements in both formats, with mother[i] pointing to the ith row of the 2D array, and mother[i][j] resolving to solution[i][j].

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