Please explain output.

Question

void main()
{
int a[]={1,2,6,4};
int *p,**q,*t;
p=a;
t=a+1;
q=&t;
cout<<*++p<<**q<<*t++;
}

Answer 1

Before cout:
==> p points to first element of a
==> t points to second element of a
==> q points to t since it is a pointer-to-pointer

At cout:
==> *++p means "increment p first and then derefence it" or simply *(p + 1). It will print the second element of a
==> since q is a pointer to a pointer, you need to dereference it twice: *q returns t pointer, **q returns what t is pointing to, which is 6.
==> *t++ also means *(t + 1) but since it's the post-increment operator it will derefence t first 'then' do the incrementing. So cout will print the second element of a which is 2.

After cout:
==> t will point to the third element of a because of the t++ part.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Oh, I didn't noticed it when I wrote it. You're right, how q really shows 6 when t is pointing to 2?
Now I'm confused too :D

Answer 3

Ah, I see. So that's why. Thanks.

Answer 4

I got answer today as post increment operator has highest precedence thus t++ will execute first thats why q is printing 6 and t value is printing 2 bcoz compiler printing the value we asked in current statement.

Answer 5

how q is pointing to 6 when t is point to 2. Not getting that point please try to explain that.