Question

I found this function definition

void *func(void *param) {

}

Actually, I have a certain confusion regarding this function definition. What does void * mean in the return type of the function as well as the argument. I am a beginner in C. So please don’t mind. Thank you

void *func(void *param) {
  int s = (int)param;
  ....
}

Well looking at the above program which I found. I think it should have been

int *s = (int *)param;

isn’t it? I am confused

Answer 1

void * means it’s a pointer of no specific type, think of it as a generic pointer, unlike say int * an int pointer.

You can cast it into a different type if need be (for instance if you are going to do pointer arithmetic with the pointer).

You might find this SO question of use: Concept of void pointer in C programming