What does the & operator do in C?
a) It returns the memory address of a variable
b) It performs a bitwise AND operation
c) It dereferences a pointer
d) It performs a logical AND operation
Answer:
a) It returns the memory address of a variable
Explanation:
The & operator in C, when used with a variable, returns the memory address of that variable. This operator is essential for working with pointers, as it allows a pointer to be assigned the address of a variable. For example, if int x = 10;, then int *ptr = &x; assigns the address of x to the pointer ptr. Understanding the & operator is crucial for working with pointers and memory management in C.
Knowing how to use the & operator is fundamental for dynamic memory allocation, passing variables by reference, and efficient data handling in C.