Print multidimensional array in c

Question

I'm trying to create a multidimensional array to keep strings in it, with a length of 5. However it seems to be problem when i try to print out a sinle element from the arrays.

In my printf("%s", a[0][0][5]) it should print out "hej0" in a char array last [5]stand for the amout of characters of the current element + '\o' And first and second [] stand for row and which element to target?

When i try to compile this code it will just crash.

int main() {

    char a[3][4][5] = {
        {"hej0", "hej1", "hej2", "hej3"} ,
        {"hej4", "hej5", "hej6", "hej7"} ,
        {"hej8", "hej9", "hej10", "hej11"}
        };

    printf("%s", a[0][0][5]);
    return 0;
}

Note that some of your strings are too long for the array dimensions (your compiler should be warning you about this!) - you really need char a[3][4][6] since you have some 5 character strings which need 6 bytes including terminator. — Paul R
– Paul R, Commented Sep 11, 2014 at 9:08

n0p · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-11 09:08:07Z

4

If you do :

printf("%s", a[0][0][5]);

You are trying to access the 6th character of the string pointed by a[0][0], which is "hej0". It has 4 characters and the fifth is the NULL terminating byte \0 (so you are trying to read beyond the string).

To print "hej0":

printf("%s", a[0][0]);

answered Sep 11, 2014 at 9:08

n0p

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1 Comment

mch Over a year ago

a[0][0][5] is the 6th character, which is the first after '\0'

n0p · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-11 09:26:45Z

3

First issue I have seen your code is that size of array should be a[3][4][6] not a[3][4][5]. Because your elements "hej10", "hej11" required 6 bytes instead of 5. Also to print any particular element just provide base address like:

printf("%s", a[0][0]);

edited Sep 11, 2014 at 9:26

n0p

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answered Sep 11, 2014 at 9:14

Hemant Gangwar

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Comments

Kao · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-11 09:29:54Z

3

First problem is, if you want to put a 5 char string into a char array, you need to make the array 6 chars big, as it is terminated by character '\0'.

Second problem is, a[0][0][5] is the sixth element of the third row, which does not exist.

Third problem would be, if you want to print the complete string you should not specify a char number for output. Try a[0][0] instead of a[0][0][5]

Here is a correction:

char a[3][4][6] = {
    { "hej0", "hej1", "hej2", "hej3" },
    { "hej4", "hej5", "hej6", "hej7" },
    { "hej8", "hej9", "hej10", "hej11"}
};

printf("%s", a[0][0]);

edited Sep 11, 2014 at 9:29

Kao

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answered Sep 11, 2014 at 9:16

Juanchito

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