In C, how do I "directly" copy a struct to an array member?

Question

So I want to do this:

struct element{
  int t;
};

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
  struct element arr[10];
  arr[0]={3};
  return 0;
}

But this gives me the following error:

test.c: In function ‘main’:
test.c:7:10: error: expected expression before ‘{’ token
    7 |   arr[0]={3};
      |          ^

To fix this, I will have to resort to writing:

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
  struct element arr[10];
  struct element tmp = {3};
  arr[0]= tmp;
  return 0;
}

But I think it is inelegant to write a tmp value when I just want to assign directly to element{3}. How do I fix the syntax so that I do not need to create this tmp value?

BTW, struct element tmp = element{3} this is not valid C code. Though it is valid C++. — kaylum
– kaylum, Commented Oct 23, 2020 at 12:01

dbush · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-23 12:00:54Z

5

What you want is a compound literal:

arr[0]=(struct element){3};

answered Oct 23, 2020 at 12:00

dbush

233k27 gold badges261 silver badges334 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

WhozCraig Over a year ago

The number of times I've seen ludicrous blocks of code written to do this very thing because the author(s) had no idea this feature existed in C just makes me cry.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

In C, how do I "directly" copy a struct to an array member?

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related