memory allocation for array of pointers

Question

I need to allocate memory for a pointer which needs to be used as a 2d array.I know how to allocate memory for char pointers and int pointers I am confused how memory is allocat

Answer 1

Emphisizing what Jack said in in the end: his code works only if the array is declared as a pointer-of-pointers by using **.

When the array is declared as

char *names[5];

I guess the right way of allocating memory is almost as Ak1to did, but multiplying by the wanted size of the string of chars:

char *names[5];
for(i=0;i<5;i++)
{
  names[i]=(char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*80);
}

else the compiler throws an error about incompatible types.