Question

So if I do:

char * a = "hello";

“hello” is stored in the RODATA section and a points to it. If I do:

char a[10] = "hello";

“hello” is stored on the STACK in an array of 10 bytes called a.

What happens when I do:

char * a[10] = {"hello", "hi"}

So, we have an array of 10 character pointers which will be stored on the STACK. But what about the string literals? Do they go in the RODATA section?
Also, does the same thing happen with argv?

Answer 1

char *a[10] = {"hello", "hi"}

The elements of the array are pointers to string literals. As any string literal they are also non-modifiable and the implementation can store them in read-only memory.

*a[0] = 'g';   // undefined behavior, modifying a string literal
a[0] = "bla";  // ok, modifying the pointer

Now for your second question:

Also, does the same thing happen with argv?

No, because they are not string literals. The pointers in argv and the strings pointed to can be modified. This is guaranteed by the C Standard.

(C99, 5.1.2.2.1p2) “The parameters argc and argv and the strings pointed to by the argv array shall be modifiable by the program, and retain their last-stored values between program startup and program termination.”