A pointer to 2d array

Question

I have a question about a pointer to 2d array. If an array is something like

int a[2][3];

then, is this a pointer to array a?<

Answer 1

int a[2][3];

a is read as an array 2 of array 3 of int which is simply an array of arrays. When you write,

int (*p)[3] = a;

It declares p as a pointer to the first element which is an array. So, p points to the array of 3 ints which is a element of array of arrays.

Consider this example:

        int a[2][3]
+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+
\_____________/
       |
       |    
       |
       p    int (*p)[3]

Here, p is your pointer which points to the array of 3 ints which is an element of array of arrays.