Why am I only able to manipulate files with pointers?

Question

Why am I only able to manipulate files with pointers?

Asked 6 years, 2 months ago

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In the statement I always have to put

FILE *Arq;

If I put it without the * it presents an error. Why?

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2018/10/07 at 14:55

1 answer

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by Maniero • **444,682** points · Answer 1 · 2018-09-20T19:46:02+00:00

Because the given that function fopen() returns is a pointer, so you have to declare the variable with a compatible type. If it returns something else, this is what you have to declare in the variable that will sustain the object that will handle the file manipulation. See the documentation.

I could question why it returns pointer. It is a complex object and it has information in an area outside the stack, even managed by the operating system, then access indirectly is the only option.