Difference between "char *arr" and "char arr[]"

[Erik Naggum]

In article <ENAG.90Sep23231057 at hild.ifi.uio.no>, Erik Naggum (I) wrote:

> Let me venture a concise explanation to this difference:
>
>	extern char *arr	declares an object, containing a
>				pointer to a character
>
>	extern char arr[]	declares a constant pointer to a
>				character

In article <26680 at mimsy.umd.edu>, Chris Torek (you) write:

> Concise, yes; correct, no.  Both declare objects; the latter declares
> an object that is an array.  It IS an array; it is NOT a pointer.  The
> confusion occurs because objects that are arrays are *converted into*
> VALUES that are pointers, whenever the value is called for.

Rather, "char arr[14]" declares an array, but "extern char arr[]" only
declares that "arr" is some constant pointer the value of which is to
be resolved by the linker.  "char *arr" declares an object, and
"extern char *arr" declares that "arr" is some object the address of
which is to be resolved by the linker.

I think you overlooked the "extern" up there.  I follow your arguments
for locally declared objects down to the finest details.

Strictly speaking, I have to correct my own explanation: Neither
declares objects, but instead object names with types and values of
that type to be resolved by the linker (or later, anyhow).

I hope this gets a "concise, no; correct, yes" response, at least.

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