How can I use an array of function pointers?

Question

How should I use array of function pointers in C?

How can I initialize them?

Answer 1

This question has been already answered with very good examples. The only example that might be missing is one where the functions return pointers. I wrote another example with this, and added lots of comments, in case someone finds it helpful:

#include <stdio.h>

char * func1(char *a) {
    *a = 'b';
    return a;
}

char * func2(char *a) {
    *a = 'c';
    return a;
}

int main() {
    char a = 'a';
    /* declare array of function pointers
     * the function pointer types are char * name(char *)
     * A pointer to this type of function would be just
     * put * before name, and parenthesis around *name:
     *   char * (*name)(char *)
     * An array of these pointers is the same with [x]
     */
    char * (*functions[2])(char *) = {func1, func2};
    printf("%c, ", a);
    /* the functions return a pointer, so I need to deference pointer
     * Thats why the * in front of the parenthesis (in case it confused you)
     */
    printf("%c, ", *(*functions[0])(&a)); 
    printf("%c\n", *(*functions[1])(&a));

    a = 'a';
    /* creating 'name' for a function pointer type
     * funcp is equivalent to type char *(*funcname)(char *)
     */
    typedef char *(*funcp)(char *);
    /* Now the declaration of the array of function pointers
     * becomes easier
     */
    funcp functions2[2] = {func1, func2};

    printf("%c, ", a);
    printf("%c, ", *(*functions2[0])(&a));
    printf("%c\n", *(*functions2[1])(&a));

    return 0;
}

Answer 2

Oh, there are tons of example. Just have a look at anything within glib or gtk. You can see the work of function pointers in work there all the way.

Here e.g the initialization of the gtk_button stuff.

static void
gtk_button_class_init (GtkButtonClass *klass)
{
  GObjectClass *gobject_class;
  GtkObjectClass *object_class;
  GtkWidgetClass *widget_class;
  GtkContainerClass *container_class;

  gobject_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
  object_class = (GtkObjectClass*) klass;
  widget_class = (GtkWidgetClass*) klass;
  container_class = (GtkContainerClass*) klass;

  gobject_class->constructor = gtk_button_constructor;
  gobject_class->set_property = gtk_button_set_property;
  gobject_class->get_property = gtk_button_get_property;

And in gtkobject.h you find the following declarations:

struct _GtkObjectClass
{
  GInitiallyUnownedClass parent_class;

  /* Non overridable class methods to set and get per class arguments */
  void (*set_arg) (GtkObject *object,
           GtkArg    *arg,
           guint      arg_id);
  void (*get_arg) (GtkObject *object,
           GtkArg    *arg,
           guint      arg_id);

  /* Default signal handler for the ::destroy signal, which is
   *  invoked to request that references to the widget be dropped.
   *  If an object class overrides destroy() in order to perform class
   *  specific destruction then it must still invoke its superclass'
   *  implementation of the method after it is finished with its
   *  own cleanup. (See gtk_widget_real_destroy() for an example of
   *  how to do this).
   */
  void (*destroy)  (GtkObject *object);
};

The (*set_arg) stuff is a pointer to function and this can e.g be assigned another implementation in some derived class.

Often you see something like this

struct function_table {
   char *name;
   void (*some_fun)(int arg1, double arg2);
};

void function1(int  arg1, double arg2)....


struct function_table my_table [] = {
    {"function1", function1},
...

So you can reach into the table by name and call the "associated" function.

Or maybe you use a hash table in which you put the function and call it "by name".

Regards
Friedrich

Answer 3

Here's how you can use it:

New_Fun.h

#ifndef NEW_FUN_H_
#define NEW_FUN_H_

#include <stdio.h>

typedef int speed;
speed fun(int x);

enum fp {
    f1, f2, f3, f4, f5
};

void F1();
void F2();
void F3();
void F4();
void F5();
#endif

New_Fun.c

#include "New_Fun.h"

speed fun(int x)
{
    int Vel;
    Vel = x;
    return Vel;
}

void F1()
{
    printf("From F1\n");
}

void F2()
{
    printf("From F2\n");
}

void F3()
{
    printf("From F3\n");
}

void F4()
{
    printf("From F4\n");
}

void F5()
{
    printf("From F5\n");
}

Main.c

#include <stdio.h>
#include "New_Fun.h"

int main()
{
    int (*F_P)(int y);
    void (*F_A[5])() = { F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 };    // if it is int the pointer incompatible is bound to happen
    int xyz, i;

    printf("Hello Function Pointer!\n");
    F_P = fun;
    xyz = F_P(5);
    printf("The Value is %d\n", xyz);
    //(*F_A[5]) = { F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 };
    for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
    {
        F_A[i]();
    }
    printf("\n\n");
    F_A[f1]();
    F_A[f2]();
    F_A[f3]();
    F_A[f4]();
    return 0;
}

I hope this helps in understanding Function Pointer.

Answer 4

Can use it in the way like this:

//! Define:
#define F_NUM 3
int (*pFunctions[F_NUM])(void * arg);

//! Initialise:
int someFunction(void * arg) {
    int a= *((int*)arg);
    return a*a;
}

pFunctions[0]= someFunction;

//! Use:
int someMethod(int idx, void * arg, int * result) {
    int done= 0;
    if (idx < F_NUM && pFunctions[idx] != NULL) {
        *result= pFunctions[idx](arg);
        done= 1;
    }
    return done;
}

int x= 2;
int z= 0;
someMethod(0, (void*)&x, &z);
assert(z == 4);