/*  _______         ____    __         ___    ___
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 * /_______/ynamic    \____/niversal  /__\  /____\usic   /|  .  . ibliotheque
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 * fnptr.txt - Function pointer explanation.          / / \  \
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 */


C allows you to create and use function pointers. A function pointer is a
variable that points to a function, and you can use it to call that function.
Why is this useful?

Function pointers can be passed as parameters. As an example, here's a
function from Allegro:

   void create_light_table(COLOR_MAP *table, const PALETTE pal, int r, g, b,
                                                  void (*callback)(int pos));

Don't worry about the syntax just yet, but the last parameter, 'callback', is
a pointer to a function that takes an int parameter. create_light_table() can
take some time to complete its work, and you may want to display a progress
indicator. So you write a function to draw the progress indicator, and then,
for 'callback', you specify a pointer to your function. This will enable
create_light_table() to call your function at intervals during its
processing. (If you don't want to use the callback, you can pass NULL, but
this only works because create_light_table() checks actively for NULL. You
can't always specify NULL when you want nothing to happen.)

There are many other uses. In addition to using function pointers as
parameters, Allegro has some global function pointers you can set to point to
your functions. Function pointers can also be used in structs, and this is
where DUMB makes the most use of them.

So how are they used?

   void bar(void) { ... }    /* Here's a function */
   void (*foo)(void) = &bar; /* Take a pointer */
   (*foo)();                 /* Call the function */

   char *baz(float a) { ... }          /* Here's another function */
   char *(*foobarbaz)(float a) = &baz; /* Take a pointer */
   char *rv = (*foobarbaz)(0.1);       /* Call the function */

In both these cases, note how the statement for calling the pointed-to
function (third line) resembles the definition of the function pointer
(second line). This is true of any variable in C, and can lead to some truly
obfuscated definitions if you are that way inclined. Such definitions can be
clarified with typedefs, but before you use those, it is important you
understand how the above statements work. I speak from experience: function
pointer notation looks random and scary, until you understand why it's the
way it is; then it makes perfect sense.

(It is actually permissible to omit the & when taking a pointer and to write
e.g. foobarbaz(0.1) instead of (*foobarbaz)(0.1). However, I recommend not
doing this, since the syntax for using the pointer no longer resembles the
definition. Writing e.g. (*foobarbaz)(0.1) also makes a clear distinction
between function pointer calls and ordinary function calls, which makes code
more readable.)

Note that function pointers have the return value and parameter list
specified. A function pointer can only point to a function with a matching
return value and matching parameters. (You can break this rule by casting the
pointer explicitly, but there is no situation where doing so is portable to
all computers, and I strongly advise against it unless you're writing system
code. If you're not sure whether you're writing system code or not, then
you're not.)

The parameter names need not match (although the types must). If you wish to
rename a parameter in your function, you do not have to change the function
pointer accordingly. In fact, when you define a function pointer, you don't
even have to specify the names of parameters if you don't want to. I normally
do so for clarity.

It is possible to typedef a function pointer. In order to typedef a function
pointer, you start by declaring the pointer as a variable:

   void (*myfunc)(void);

Then you write 'typedef' before it and replace the variable name, which is
myfunc, with the type name (this rule can be applied to any variable when you
want to use typedef):

   typedef void (*MYTYPE)(void);

Now 'MYTYPE' represents a pointer to a function with no parameters and no
return value. The following two lines are completely equivalent:

   MYTYPE myfunc;
   void (*myfunc)(void);

Note that we use MYTYPE without an asterisk (*), since it is already a
pointer.

That's it. If you feel anything should be explained better here, or if you
feel something should be added, please don't hesitate to let me know!


Ben Davis
entheh@users.sf.net
IRC EFnet #dumb
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