Value of a Variable as the Name of Another Variable?

Question

In C, how do you use the value of a variable or a field within a struct as the name of a variable or field within a struct to be used in a program?

i.e.:

char variable_name[];

struct_x.value_of_variable_name = 1;
// assuming the variable struct_x.value_of_variable_name is an int

This is rarely a good idea even in languages that support it. — Don Roby
– Don Roby, Commented Mar 3, 2012 at 21:21

Oliver Charlesworth · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-03 21:17:25Z

4

You can't. Variable names exist only at compile-time.

You could emulate this behaviour manually by creating a lookup table (that maps a string to a pointer, for instance), but there is no language support for this.

answered Mar 3, 2012 at 21:17

Oliver Charlesworth

274k34 gold badges591 silver badges687 bronze badges

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

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Value of a Variable as the Name of Another Variable?

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related