Suppose if i have a struct like this
struct node{ // note that i have changed the struct code according to my convenience
char* lastname;
char* employeeID;
struct node* nextRecord;
} ;
typedef struct node myRecord;
Now I am allocating memory for the sirst node as below
headptr=malloc(sizeof(myRecord));
The struct inludes two strings. when I store something in headptr->lastname where does it get stored? shoul I allocate memory for those two strings explicitly?
when I store something in myRecord->lastname where does it get stored?
It will lead to undefined behaviour.
should I allocate memory for those two strings explicitly?
Yes, you have to allocate for the struct members lastname and employeeIDas too.
Like this:
headptr=malloc(sizeof(myRecord));
headptr->lastname = malloc(n1); // Alllocate n1 bytes
headptr->employeeIDas = malloc(n2); // Alllocate n2 bytes
However, if you assign string literals to those pointers, then you don't need to allocate memory.
headptr->lastname = "last name";
headptr->employeeIDas = "12345";
Here, you are making the pointers to point to string literals which have static storage duration.
String literals can't be modified in C (attempting to modify invokes undefined behaviour). If you intend to modify them, then you should take former approach (allocate memory) and copy the string literals.
headptr->lastname = malloc(n1); // Alllocate n1 bytes
headptr->employeeIDas = malloc(n2); // Alllocate n2 bytes
and then copy them:
strncpy(headptr->lastname, "last name", n1);
headptr->lastname[ n1 - 1 ] = 0;
strncpy(headptr->employeeIDas, "12345", n2);
headptr->employeeIDas[ n2 - 1 ] = 0;
n1 and n2 if that makes it better.
Yes, you need to explicitly allocate memory for those. Your structure doesn't include strings, it includes only pointers for which the memory will be allocated as part of memory allocation for the structure. It's your own decision to use these pointers as heads for strings and you need to provide an explicitly allocated space for them, which has nothing to do with the original struct.
No, you do not have to allocate memory for the strings. If you assign a string directly, it will stored in a readonly section (modifying will not work). If you want it modifiable, you will have to allocate memory.
headptr->lastname = "whatever"; // will work but no modify operations possible
or
headptr->lastname = malloc(NUM_BYTES);
headptr->lastname = "abc"; // modifiable string
