Question

#include<stdio.h>
void main()
{
 char ***p="hello";
 printf("%c",++*p++);
}

I haven’t understand why the (*) indirection operator used here three times.

When i compiled this program then the output was “j”.
But actually hear the p is a pointer to pointer to pointer to Array of character.
Then why i getting the output as j.
I didn’t understand what’s the logic behind this.
Please help me to understand the actual logic behind this.

And the confusion increase more when I only use one indirection operator and get complied the program .then the output is i.means

void main()
{
 char *p="hello";
 printf("%c",++*p++);
}

Answer 1

First, it is an undefined behavior.

Second, it isn’t a correct C (or C++) code either. It generates this warning due to non-const char pointer.

3.c: In function 'main':
3.c:5:12: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type [enabled by default]
  char ***p="hello";
            ^

Better do it this way:

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    const char ***p="hello";
    printf("%c",++*p++);

    return 0;
}

And regarding what it prints: the program has requested the run-time to terminate it in an unusual way. But this is an undefined behavior – your results may vary.