Pointers, Arrays, and Recursion from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Pointers

Pointers are one of the most important and powerful aspects of the C language. Pointers are critical to understanding arrays, which let you manipulate sequences of data. They also give a programmer control and flexibility when programming, enabling solutions that are clean and efficient. Some other languages use pointers implicitly—or pointer-like constructs—so understanding their use will make you a better programmer in any language.

Arrays

Arrays are sequences of memory of the same type that are guaranteed to be one after another. This is an incredibly useful data format, enabling you to store many things together under one variable name. In this module, you will learn how to use arrays to solve more complex problems and lay the groundwork for more complex data types.

Uses of Pointers

Now that you have mastered the basics of pointers and arrays, it is time to see some important uses of them. In this module, you will learn about how to manipulate strings and multi-dimensional arrays. You will also learn about function pointers, which allow you to pass "which function to call" as the parameter of another function.

Recursion

By now you are familiar with iteration, in which repetition is expressed in terms of loops. Another programming technique to accomplish similar ideas is "recursion" in which a more complex instance of a problem is expressed in terms of solutions to simpler instances of the problem. In this module, you will learn how to read and write recursive code, giving you another powerful option for how to approach programming problems.

Project

Now that you have learned about pointers and arrays, you will build on the code you wrote in Course 2 to build a deck of cards and evaluate a poker hand. In the next course, you will complete the program to calculate poker odds with a Monte Carlo simulation.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides an introduction to programming constructs pointers, arrays, and recursion

Instructors are recognized for their work in the topic that the course teaches

Teaches skills, knowledge, and/or tools that are highly relevant to industry

Reviews summary

Colleges first c programming

Learners say that this is a challenging but rewarding introductory course to C programming, especially for those with a fundamental understanding of programming languages. Students should expect a variety of assignments, including readings, quizzes, and a final programming project. The coursework covers essential concepts like pointers, arrays, and recursion. Students should be comfortable with debugging and working with code that interacts with other code. This course is an excellent option for those seeking to enhance their programming skills and understanding of the C programming language.

Course provides valuable lessons on testing and debugging.

"Excellent course with valuable testing and debugging lessons!"

"Completing the final assignment is very rewarding and satisfying."

"This course definitely worth putting your effort into it."

Course is well-structured with clear explanations.

"Excellent materials on pointers, arrays & recursion."

"Teachers are great, concise and clear, they did a really good job by writing their own C programming learning book."

"Awesome Course. A very well structured course to learn about C deeply."

Course is challenging, especially the final project.

"The project was absolutely brutal, but so rewarding and fulfilling once you finally complete it!"

"This course is certainly very challenging and I am glad I made it."

"The last project is the most difficult one I ever had in a while. I am enjoying it very much."

Some assignments and projects have unclear instructions.

"Only thing keeping this from 5 stars is the testing assignments"

"The README of the project can be more clearer as I spent quite a lot time to figure out what the variables are in the pre-defined functions."

"The last assignment is described in complicated manner."

Course can be frustrating due to technical issues with the online programming environment.

"Really frustrating experience. The course content was challenging and interesting, but I am so tired of trying to access the online programming environment just to see that it's down."

"The tools (programming environment) is buggy, slow, and a pain to use."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Pointers, Arrays, and Recursion with these activities:

Review data structures and algorithms

Show steps

Refresh your knowledge of data structures and algorithms before starting this course.

Browse courses on Data Structures

Show steps

Go over your notes from a previous data structures and algorithms course or tutorial.
Complete some practice exercises to refresh your memory.
If you encounter any difficulties, seek help from a tutor or online forum.

Review basic C syntax

Show steps

Strengthen your foundation in C syntax before starting this course.

Browse courses on C Programming

Show steps

Go over your notes from a previous C course or tutorial.
Complete some practice exercises to refresh your memory.
If you encounter any difficulties, seek help from a tutor or online forum.

Organize your notes and assignments

Show steps

Stay organized throughout the course by keeping your materials in one place.

Show steps

Create a dedicated folder for the course.
File your notes, assignments, and quizzes in the folder.
Review your materials regularly to reinforce your understanding.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Connect with experienced C programmers

Show steps

Find mentors to provide guidance and support throughout the course.

Show steps

Attend industry events and meetups.
Reach out to professionals on LinkedIn.
Join online forums and communities.

Review C pointer syntax

Show steps

Practice writing C code to solidify your understanding of pointers.

Browse courses on Pointers

Show steps

Set up a development environment for C programming.
Review the syntax for declaring and using pointers in C.
Write a simple program that uses pointers to access and modify variables.
Test your program and debug any errors.
Repeat steps 2-4 with different types of data and pointer operations.

Learn about using arrays in C

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of arrays by exploring their use in real-world C programs.

Browse courses on Arrays

Show steps

Find a tutorial on using arrays in C.
Follow the tutorial and complete the exercises.
Create your own C program that uses arrays to solve a problem.
Test your program and debug any errors.
Share your program with others and discuss your approach.

Write a blog post about pointers and arrays in C

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of pointers and arrays by explaining them to others.

Browse courses on Pointers

Show steps

Choose a specific aspect of pointers and arrays in C to focus on.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Write a blog post that explains the topic in a clear and concise way.
Edit and proofread your blog post.
Publish your blog post and share it with others.

Build a simple card game using pointers and arrays

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of pointers and arrays to a practical project.

Browse courses on Pointers

Show steps

Design the game and define the data structures you will need.
Implement the game logic using pointers and arrays.
Test your game and debug any errors.
Add features and polish to your game.
Share your game with others and get feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Pointers, Arrays, and Recursion will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Developer

A Software Developer will need to be able to program and code in C. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are critical to understanding the language.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Computer Programmer

Computer Programmers will need to have a solid understanding of C programming, including pointers and arrays. This course will provide you with the skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts will need to be able to design and implement computer systems. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are essential for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators will need to be able to manage and maintain databases. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many database management systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Web Developer

Web Developers will need to be able to design and develop websites. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many web development frameworks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Mobile App Developer

Mobile App Developers will need to be able to design and develop mobile apps. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many mobile app development frameworks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile App Developer

Game Developer

Game Developers will need to be able to design and develop video games. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many game development engines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Embedded Systems Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineers will need to be able to design and develop embedded systems. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Robotics Engineer

Robotics Engineers will need to be able to design and develop robots. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many robotics applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Artificial Intelligence Engineers will need to be able to design and develop AI systems. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many AI applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists will need to be able to analyze data and develop data-driven solutions. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many data science applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers will need to be able to design and develop machine learning models. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many machine learning applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Actuary

Actuaries will need to be able to analyze data and develop financial models. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many actuarial applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts will need to be able to analyze data and develop financial models. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many financial analysis applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts will need to be able to analyze data and develop investment models. This course will teach you how to use pointers and arrays in C, which are two programming constructs that are used in many investment analysis applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Analyst