Question

some times i see that functions are defined as below:

read_dir(dir)
char    *dir;   
{
        DIR * dirp;
        struct dirent *d;

        /* open directory */
        dirp = opendir(dir);
  ......... so  on

here what is the importance of the statement

char    *dir;

what is the intension behind declaring the pointer soon after the function name and then starting the function body.

Answer 1

It’s an older C syntax, kalled “K&R C” since it’s how it appeared in the original version of the legendary book.

What used to be written like this:

foo(a, b)
int a;
int b;
{
}

is now

int foo(int a, int b)
{
}