What is the difference between char *s[] and char (*s)[]? [duplicate]

Answer 1

While declaration was covered, perhaps differences in usage should also be pointed out:

char s[5][5]; --

• s points to an area of allocated memory (heap if global, stack if local),
• you may safely write up to 25 char values at s[0][0] .. s[4][4] (or at s[0] .. s[24]),
• sizeof(s) == 25.

char *s[5]; --

• s points to an area of allocated memory (heap if global, stack if local),
• you may safely write up to 5 pointer values at s[0] .. s[4],
• sizeof(s) == 40 (*).

char (*s)[5]; --

• s does not point to any allocated memory -- it's merely an uninitialized pointer at this point,
• you may safely write one pointer value at &s,
• sizeof(s) == 8 (*).

(*) note: assuming a 64-bit architecture.