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eth-summaries/semester3/spca/parts/00_c/01_basics/07_pointers.tex
2026-01-06 16:39:28 +01:00

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\newpage
\subsubsection{Pointers}
On loading of a program, the OS creates the virtual address space for the process, inspects the executable and loads the data to the right places in the address space,
before other preparations like final linking and relocation are done.
Stack-based languages (supporting recursion) allocate stack in frames that contain local variables, return information and temporary space.
When a procedure is entered, a stack frame is allocated and executes any necessary setup code (like moving the stack pointer, see later). % TODO: Link to correct section
When a procedure returns, the stack frame is deallocated and any necessary cleanup code is executed, before execution of the previous frame continues.
\bi{In \lC\ a pointer is a variable whose value is the memory address of another variable}
Of note is that if you simply declare a pointer using \texttt{type * p;} you will get different memory addresses every time.
The (Linux)-Kernel randomizes the address space to prevent some common exploits.
\inputcodewithfilename{c}{code-examples/00_c/00_basics/}{05_pointers.c}
\begin{scriptsize}
Some pointer arithmetic has already appeared in section \ref{sec:c-arrays}, but same kind of content with better explanation can be found here
\end{scriptsize}