c++ - In char x[10]="hello" , why cout<<x; doesn't print out the array's address? -

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• why cout print char arrays differently other arrays? 4 answers

as in

int x[3] = {1, 2, 3, 4}; cout<<x; 

would print out x address. if choose character array,

char x[10]="hello"; 

it prints out string

hello

and let's compiler smart enough understand in case of char array , point less print out address , prints out string instead, how print char array address?

and consider statement

char *ptr = "hello"; 

why legal, aren't pointers supposed store address?

it prints "hello" because operator << has overload const char* (which you're passing if pass x) prints out single char , moves next char until nul-character found. "hello" has compiled-added nul-character @ end, string "hello\0".

to address can cast void* remove overload of const char*:

reinterpret_cast<const void*>(x) 

why legal, aren't pointers supposed store address?

yes, that's ptr storing. when assign pointer "hello" const char[] ptr point [0] of array. note though in case conversion first has made const char* char* has been deprecated years , since c++11 illegal because trying edit pointee through char* lead undefined behaviour. compilers still allow though while should emit error.