Question

Consider the following code

int tab2[2];
tab2[0]=5;
tab2[1]=3;
std::cout << tab2[1] << std::endl;
std::cout << (&tab2)[1] << std::endl;

As I have read in other topics, an array can decay to pointer at its first element. Then why doesn’t the [] doesn’t work the same for tab2 and &tab2 in the above code? What is different?

Answer 1

It’s already “converted” as a pointer. You can use the [] notation with arrays or pointers…

(&tab2) means you get the address of your array… In a pointer perspective, it’s a pointer to a pointer ( ** ).

So you are trying to convert a variable (which is an array) as a pointer. Ok, but then you try to access the [1] element, which of course does not exist, as your pointer points to your array’s address… Such a notation would expect a second array.