Re: pointers...
 

"geo" <geometrikal@hhoottmmaaiill> wrote in message news:<clcm-20030623-0001@plethora.net>...
> hi all
>
> say if i had :
>
> struct random_struct {
> .....
> .....
> .....
> }
>
> struct random_struct random;
>
> and then i had a function which used this structure. What is the best
> programming practice:
>
> void function(struct random_struct * r) {
> .......
> }
>
> function(&random);
>
> or:
>
> void function(struct random_struct r) {
> .......
> }
>
> function(random);
>

it would depend mostly on what your function is supposed to
do with the structure.

usually, it is "better" in terms of efficiency to pass a pointer
to the structure, but that allows the function to modify the
contents of the structure.

if the function *has* to make modifications to the contents of
the structure, then you can only pass a pointer. if the function
*must not* make changes to the structure contents, then you
can either
a) pass the entire structure as an argument.
b) pass a pointer with necessary const-ness.

hth
goose,
not too sure about the const-ness bit
--
comp.lang.c.moderated - moderation address: clcm@plethora.net