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C Programming Masterclass: Pointers & Advanced C Language

Name: C Programming Masterclass: Pointers & Advanced C Language
Rating: 4.4 (1696 reviews)

C Programming Advanced Topics: Pointers, Memory, Low-Level C Language and Embedded C Preparation

Bestseller

Created byVlad Budnitski

Last updated 4/2026

English

German [Auto],English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Introduction To Pointers For Beginners
Pointers Declaration, Initialization, and Usage
Pointers Dereferencing
Multiple Indirection
Pointers Arithmetics
Generic Pointers
Dynamic Memory Allocation
"malloc" function
"calloc" function
"realloc" function & "issues"
"free" function
Dangling Pointers
Memory Leakage Tool - Valgrind
Pointers Arithmetic
"sizeof" operator
Arrays & Pointers
Strings & Pointers
A few Secrets of Strings using Pointers
Function Pointers
Arrays of Pointers to Functions
Structs & Pointers
Debugger & Debugging
2D Matrix with Pointers
Introduction to Computer Architecture
Data & Structs Alignment
Sequential and Textual Files
Structural and Binary Files
Project Management
MACRO
Enums
Constants
Bitwise Operations (Embedded)
Bit Fields

Course content

30 sections • 251 lectures • 41h 2m total length

Course Introduction2:14
About the course3:27
Quick Update: scanf & CRT - how to work with it?4:12
Discover how the C runtime functions differ in security, compare old versus secure versions like scanf_s and strcpy_s, and follow course guidance on deprecation and usage.

Introduction to Pointers + General Visualization7:55
Explore pointers and pass-by-value in C while visualizing a swap function. Learn why main values like A and B may not swap despite Num1 and Num2 swapping inside the function.
Why using Pointers? [Reasons & Motivation]12:55
Learn how pointers enable swap by passing addresses instead of values, contrast passing by value with passing by reference, and see how pointers access and modify main variables.
Another reasons and motivation behind the usage of pointers4:41
Declaration & Usage of Pointers15:00
Pointers Initialization4:18
Short Dereference6:18
Learn how to use pointers and dereferencing to modify a variable indirectly via a pointer, using ampersand to obtain an address and star to access and set the value.
Challenge #1 - Printing Value & Address of a Variable4:38
Challenge #2 - Guessing the Output9:04
Exclusive Pass By Reference Guide12:18
Quick Summary3:34

Pointers Arithmetic Introduction13:13
Pointers Arithmetic Examples6:28
Rules - Summary5:50
Learn how pointer arithmetic works in C by adding or subtracting integers to pointers, factoring in the size of the pointed-to type, and computing the distance between two addresses.
Pointers Arithmetic - DIY Exercises2:22
The "sizeof" Operator - Introduction4:06
Discover the size of operator in C, printing memory sizes in bytes for int, double, and char variables using printf.
The "sizeof" Operator - Basic Practice3:02
"sizeof" & Static Arrays3:23
Learn how the size of operator computes memory usage for static arrays in C, with a three-element int array (12 bytes) and a five-element double array (40 bytes), and pointers.
"sizeof" & Pointers14:46
Explore how the sizeof operator works with arrays and pointers: pointers yield their own size, while static arrays yield total element bytes, varying by 32-bit or 64-bit systems.

Exercise - Swap Function4:21
Milestone #1 - Develop Your Real Swap Function!2:50
Milestone #1 - Solution7:54
Learn how to swap two integers by reference in C using pointers, passing addresses to a void swap function, and verify values before and after the operation.
Multiple Indirection5:01
Explore multiple indirection in C by using pointers to int and pointers to pointers, illustrating beta1 and beta2, and how the number of stars defines the level of indirection.
Generic Pointer (void star) - What is “void *”? [Generic Universal Pointer]14:57
Generic Swap Function (including "memcpy" function)21:53
Learn to implement a generic swap function using a void pointer to swap two values of the same size. Explore memory copy with memcpy and temp memory for safe swapping.
Assignment: Implementing Different Data Swapping Techniques in C

Arrays - Memory Representation4:03
Passing an Array to a Function8:34
Search if an Element is in a Given Array11:45
Challenge#1 [Question]: Function to Find Maximum Value of an Array and Return it1:06
Challenge#1 [Solution]: Function to Find Maximum Value of an Array and Return it5:47
Challenge #2 [Question]: Calculates the Average Value of an Array (using 2 func)2:20
Develop a new function that uses the existing summary function to compute and return the average value of an array given its size, with examples like salaries and grades.
Challenge #2 [Solution]: Calculates the Average Value of an Array (using 2 func)8:59
Input & Print Functions - (useful for any given array)8:25
Challenge #3 - Finding and Passing by Pointer - “Min” & “Max” values of an array10:40
Challenge #3.1 [Additional] - Function to Update the Average by Reference2:28
Learn to update the average by reference in C with a function that takes two ints and updates the main's average variable, without returning a value.
Challenge #3.1 [Solution] - Function to Update the Average by Reference10:09
Challenge #4 - Does Array Has An Element With Good Neighbors - Question4:26
Challenge #4 - Does Array Has An Element With Good Neighbors - Solution5:09
Challenge #5 - Function To Find If Array Is Sorted Or Not - Question4:26
Challenge #5 - Iterative Solution18:39
Learn an iterative approach to check if an array is sorted using for loops and a by-reference flag. Explore function signature, passing the array and size, and updating the flag.
Challenge #5 - Advanced Recursive Solution [Using Recursion & Functions]18:04
Challenge #6 -Reverse Array using Pointers Arithmetic - Iter. & Recursive - Q.2:28
Reverse a character array in place using pointer arithmetic, with iterative and recursive approaches, by implementing a function that accepts the array and its size and reverses its elements.
Challenge #6 -Reverse Array using Pointers Arithmetic - Iter. & Recursive - S.10:54
Implement a pointer-based swap to reverse a character array and verify results by printing; apply both iterative and recursive approaches, swapping symmetric elements from the ends toward the center.
(old version) - Exercise - Reverse Array Using Recursion And Pointer Arithmetic17:36
Challenge #7 - Count and Print the Frequency of Each Array's Element - Question4:04
Challenge #7 - Count and Print the Frequency of Each Array's Element - Solution15:18
Challenge #8 - Find & Return the "Second Smallest" Element - Question1:39
Challenge #8 - Find & Return the "Second Smallest" Element - Solution11:15
Discover a single-pass C solution to find the second smallest number in an int array by maintaining min1 and min2, updating them as you iterate, and returning min2.
Challenge #9 - Find 2 specific elements in Sorted Array O(n^2) & O(n) - Question5:33
Learn to find two numbers in a sorted array that sum to a given value, compare O(n^2) and O(n) solutions, and return a success flag with the two indices.
Challenge #9 - Find 2 specific elements in Sorted Array O(n^2) & O(n) - Solution9:00
Show a brute-force approach to find two elements whose sum equals a value in a sorted array using two indices, and discuss optimization to O(n) in the next video.
Challenge #9 - Find 2 specific elements - Optimized Solution10:43
ATTENTION! Problem with Returning a Static Array from a Function12:12
Extra Practice #1 - Recursion - is Array of Integers a Palindrome - Question3:50
Extra Practice #1 - Recursion - is Array of Integers a Palindrome - Solution14:33
Extra Practice #2 - Exchanging Signs Array Recursively - Question3:40
Develop a recursive function in C to check an integer array of given size, ensuring every adjacent pair has opposite signs, returning 1 when true and 0 otherwise.
Extra Practice #2 - Exchanging Signs Array - Solution17:32
Master the exchanging signs array problem by testing adjacent elements for opposite signs, using sign comparison or product sign, with a recursive base case size equals one.
Extra Practice #3 - Maximum of 2 Adjacent Elements (using pointers) - Question3:04
Learn to implement a recursive function in C that, given an int array and its size, returns the maximum sum of two adjacent elements using pointers.
Extra Practice #3 - Maximum of 2 Adjacent Elements (using pointers) - Solution16:25
Extra Practice #4 - Print Array Elements using Pointers in C - Question2:35
Extra Practice #4 - Print Array Elements using Pointers in C - Solution12:38
Explore printing array elements using pointers in C through recursion, printing elements in order by passing the next element's address and reducing the size until base cases.
Extra Practice #5 - Recursively using Pointers & Functions - Find Array Average2:31
Develop a recursive function that takes a pointer to the first array element and its size to compute the average. Practice recursion over an iterative sum approach.
Extra Practice #5 - Recursively using Pointers & Functions - Find Average - Sol.12:40
Extra Practice #6 - Adjacent Elements Parts Sorted in Floating Point Array - Q.5:53
Extra Practice #6 - Adjacent Elements Parts Sorted in Floating Point Array - S.10:14
Implement a recursive function that returns 0 or 1 to verify adjacent doubles are ordered by their integer and fractional parts, with a base case when size equals 1.
Extra Practice #7 - Print Number in Binary using Recursion Function - Question2:52
Develop a recursive function in C to print an integer in binary, ensuring correct left-to-right binary representation and exploring pre- or post-order printing.
Extra Practice #7 - Print Number in Binary using Recursion Function - Solution13:39

Swapping in O(n) Complexity8:59
Learn to implement an O(n) array swap in C by swapping elements of two equal-sized arrays with a swap function, using pointers and printing results.
Swapping in O(1) Complexity8:55
SwapArray(O1) - Further Visualization & Additional Clarification - part 111:40
visualize swapping two dynamically allocated integer arrays using a pointer to pointer and a temp variable, with malloc managing memory and addresses guiding the swap.
SwapArray(O1) - Further Visualization & Additional Clarification - part 25:33

What is DMA and why we may need it?8:33
“malloc" function20:37
Challenge #1 - Creating and Returning a Dynamically Allocated Array from a Func8:49
Allocate a dynamic integer array with malloc, read user input, return the address of the first element, and handle allocation errors to prevent memory leaks.
Challenge #2 - Print Dynamically Allocated Array7:14
“calloc” function8:23
“free” function14:49
Dangling Pointer7:59
Finding Memory Leakages [Valgrind]5:36
Learn to use valgrind to find memory leakages in C programs, identify dynamically allocated memory that is not freed, and monitor memory growth to ensure stable resource usage.
“realloc” function13:37
“realloc” issues6:25
"realloc" - practical code example17:39
Learn to extend a dynamically allocated array in C with realloc, using a temp pointer to safely relocate data, handle failures, and free resources.
Implementing your own “universal realloc function” - Question6:48
Implementing your own “universal realloc function” - Solution #121:38
Implementing your own “universal realloc function” - Solution #2 - using memcpy5:11
Learn how to implement a universal memory copy with memcpy to copy blocks of bytes between pointers, using malloc and void pointers to resize memory.
Adjustable Reallocation + Performance - Question2:44
Adjustable Reallocation + Performance - Explanation & Solution24:46
Discover adjustable reallocation: build a dynamic int array that grows as values are read until -1, starting at size two and using realloc to resize, with efficiency notes.
IMPORTANT Question - Create and Pass 1D Array using Pointer to Pointer!2:56
Learn to implement a void function that allocates a 1d array dynamically and updates the caller's pointer by reference to point to the new memory.
IMPORTANT Solution - Create and Pass 1D Array using Pointer to Pointer!14:34
Learn to create a one-dimensional array by reference in C, allocate with malloc, read size and values in a loop, and update the caller’s pointer via a pointer to pointer.
Assignment: Mastering Dynamic Memory Allocation in C

Exercise #1 - Creating a “new array” with NO DUPLICATES30:24
Create a function that builds a dynamically allocated no duplicates array from a sorted array using malloc, with i and j indices to copy unique values and return array.
Exercise #2 - Splitting “source array” into ODD and EVEN arrays16:45
Split a source array into dynamically allocated even and odd arrays by counting elements, allocating memory with malloc, and printing results with a print array function.
Exercise #3 - “Lower Case” & “Upper Case” arrays allocation12:26
Advanced: Practical Universal Insert Function - Question5:25
Develop a general insert function for arrays that places a value at an index for any type (int or double). Allocate memory and copy elements to produce the updated sequence.
Advanced: Practical Universal Insert Function - Solution20:15
Advanced: Practical Universal Remove Function - Question2:29
Implement a general delete function to remove an element from a sequence, creating a new array of remaining elements while detailing parameter roles for multiple types.
Advanced: Practical Universal Remove Function - Solution9:44
Question - Copy an Array and pass a new one by Reference1:59
Practice implementing a void function in C that copies an input int array into a new array and passes the new array by reference to the caller.
Solution - Copy an Array and pass a new one by Reference10:33

Dynamic Matrix - Introduction3:22
Explore dynamic memory allocation for two dimensional arrays, including array of pointers. Build on static and one dimensional array concepts to allocate, print, and free a dynamic matrix.
Arrays of Pointers - Introduction & Usage14:54
Explore arrays of pointers in C, declare an array of pointers to int, allocate a dynamic 2-D array with malloc for each row, and access elements by row and column.
Usage of Arrays of Pointers VS Static 2D Arrays8:23
Creating a Totally Dynamically 2D Array11:32
Learn to create a dynamically allocated two-dimensional array in C using an array of pointers with user-specified rows and columns, allocate memory for each row, and free it.
Developing the “allocate2DMatrix” function14:05
Developing the “print2DMatrix” function7:24
Develop the print2DMatrix function (void) to print a dynamically allocated 2D array. Iterate over rows and columns with nested loops and print each element with printf, aligning the output.
Developing the “freeMatrix” function6:07
Write a function that frees a dynamically allocated two-dimensional matrix by freeing each row, then freeing the array of pointers to prevent memory leaks.
Practice Questions - 2D Dynamic Arrays - Question6:54
Swap 2 rows in 2D Dynamic Array - using Universal Approach (solution)16:15
Demonstrates swapping two rows in a dynamically allocated two-dimensional array using a universal void-pointer approach, swapping row pointers in a pointer-to-pointer matrix with row indices as inputs.
Swap 2 columns in 2D Dynamic Array - for 2D Integer Arrays7:21
Question - 2 functions - lower and upper triangle matrix functions9:20
Solution - 2 functions - lower and upper triangle matrix creation13:45
Question - write two functions to PRINT - lower and upper triangle matrix4:06
Solution - 2 functions to print - lower and upper triangle matrix7:57
Learn to print lower and upper triangular matrices in C using two void functions, a pointer to an array of pointers, and nested loops with zero for out-of-triangle elements.
Intermediate: 2D Matrix Allocation and Passing by Reference Function - Question4:26
Learn to allocate a two dimensional matrix in C with a void function that accepts the matrix by reference via a pointer to pointer, so main receives the allocated array.
Intermediate: 2D Matrix Allocation and Passing by Reference Function - Solution16:59

Requirements

Basic knowledge of C programming language - ideally having completed my "C Programming for Beginners" course on Udemy
A computer with Windows, Linux or Mac OS
At least 4GB RAM (recommended)

Description

Welcome to the "Advanced C Programming Masterclass: Pointers & Memory in C"! This best-seller course is designed to elevate your C programming skills, with a particular focus on the C language, topics related to embedded C, and advanced C.

Introduction

C programming language still remains one of the most popular and used languages in 2025 and has great career options in different industries, such as:

- Cyber Security.

- Smart Homes & Smart Cities.

- Drones.

- And especially in Embedded Systems.

What will you learn in this course?

There is an 'ancient' phrase saying "to become an expert in C - you need to master pointers".

One of the main objectives of this course is designed to take your basic knowledge of pointers (one of the most significant topics) to the next level. The goal is to take the basic skills you've gained so far in C programming and take this knowledge to a whole new level.

We will cover pointers, memory addressing, pointers to functions, advanced concepts of structs and dynamic memory allocation, and so much more.

The beauty of this course is that it regularly gets updated with new material. And the material being added to the course these days includes lots of information in the low-level programming (the bits and bytes), preparation for usage of Embedded C in Embedded Systems, and other very important topics for the next generation of engineers.

This course covers the topics in-depth, from different angles, and with various visualizations and illustrations - that should make the learning process of pointers and low-level programming much easier and fun for you.

Also, you will get a whole dedicated section on how to use a debugger and what is the debugging process that may help you so much in developing your future applications.

After completing this course you will gain plenty of new skills and knowledge that may improve your chances of getting a job position as a C Developer as well as increasing your chances to pass the exam (if you're still a student).

What's different about this course?

Vlad Budnitski will be your instructor for this course.

He has years of experience working as a Software Developer (also working with complex systems developed in C language). As well as 4 years of experience teaching C Programming for Beginners and Advanced C Programming in College.

So you got lucky on this one because you will get knowledge from a practical software developer and experienced instructor.

You will get a handpicked, concise, and straight to the point material that you will be amazed by the way these complicated pointers can be taught.

This course is also guided with concrete exercises, challenges, and full solution videos - that will help you to practice the materials.

Who's this course for?

First of all, this course is not for "absolute beginners" and it requires you to have at least the basic knowledge of programming. It's assumed you have some knowledge of the basics in C - preferably having completed our "C Programming for Beginners" course (here on Udemy).

This course is great both for students in college as well as graduates who need to learn and understand pointers in depth.

In addition, if you're planning to explore and master the Embedded Systems domain using Embedded C - then this course is a great preparation of various topics for the Embedded Domain. Once you master all the concepts of this course you'll be a few steps closer to proceeding and mastering Embedded Systems, programming Micro Controllers, etc.

So, once again, why this course?

Investment of Time: We've spent hundreds of hours perfecting this course to make your C language learning experience engaging and fun.
Best-Seller Status: Our course stands out among others. It's a top choice for learners due to its in-depth, easy-to-understand approach to complex C programming topics.
Ease of Learning: Don't worry about getting confused or lost. We're experts at breaking down difficult concepts into easily digestible content.
Staying Current: We keep our content fresh and relevant with constant updates and improvements. Currently, we offer over 40 hours of practical C programming content.
Hands-On Training: Theory is good, but practice is better. We provide lots of exercises, complete with video solutions to help cement your knowledge.
Community Support: Got questions or doubts? Our active Q&A community is here to provide answers and support your learning journey.

List of topics

Our course covers a wide variety of C programming topics including:

The ABCs of Pointersin C Language: From declaration, initialization, usage, to dereferencing and more
Unraveling Complex C Programming Concepts: Multiple indirection, pointer arithmetic, and generic pointers
Memory Management: Dive into dynamic memory allocation, using C functions like malloc, calloc, realloc, and free
Advanced C Topics: Learn about dangling pointers, using the Valgrind memory leak tool, sizeof operator, arrays, strings, and the secrets of using pointers in strings
Function Mastery: Grasp function pointers, arrays of pointers to functions, structs, and pointers
Debugging Skills: Enhance your problem-solving capabilities with debugger and debugging techniques in C
Further Exploration: Delve into 2D matrices with pointers, computer architecture, data and structs alignment, sequential and textual files, structural and binary files, and project management
Detailed Insights: Understand MACRO, Enums, Constants, Bitwise Operations (Embedded), and Bit Fields
And more!

Words From Our Students

Check out what our students have to say about their experience with us:

“The lecturer explains the material clearly and intelligibly. The teaching material is well developed. So far, so good!” - Andrejs Ogurcovs

“This course is amazing for embedded systems engineering. Inside of this course there are a lot of examples of curriculum also about pointers that makes it helpful for learning.Finally I have understood to pointers. I wıll use in embedded systems that i have learnt knowledge about c programming in this lecturer.Thanks for your effort Vlad. Best regards.” - Emre Çakır

“This course is AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME. I had so many courses for C, and all of them copied each other. They mention about pointers in just 1 (ONE) video (10 minutes). If you have a programming experience, start from this course. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME. If I could have gave 1000 starts, I would do this. The examples, exercises, slides, topics, the voice of the teacher, everything is flawless” - beyza Erdoğan

“Having this opportunity to review C and Pointers is pretty awesome. I have learnt a lot from Vlad about C which could be regarded as the fundamental of almost every programming language. I have taken Vlad's course from C Bootcamp to this advanced pointer course, and now I am confident to say that I know about C because I understand pointers now!! Hoping there would be more algorithm contents in the future, thanks Vlad!” - Matsu Chen

“Hands down this is the best course I have ever done. Visual clarification was very useful for understanding what is happening behind the scenes. I hope Vlad makes extensions of this course with more advanced topics and exercises. Thanks Vlad!” - Venelin Stoyanov

“Vlad did a great job explaining, illustrating, and covering many essential topics in pointers with enough examples. After completing this course, I feel more confident in using pointers in c programming.” - Abdel Alkuor

“I did the first course C Programming Language for Beginners and I liked it. This course is in the same level or more until now. Thank you so much.” - João Henrique Berg dos Santos

“I struggled so much understanding pointers and how they work, and why do I need them, I also struggled with the dynamic memory allocation, but after that course I think everything cleared, and even if I am still not working perfectly with these things, I finally understood them and how they work. Thank you so much Vlad! It was pleasure watching your videos!” - Julia Vasileva

“Highly recommend taking this course for any student in college. Saved me so much time and effort. It was clearly explained, straight to the point, covered in a couple of hours more than my teacher covered in the entire semester.” - Nikolay

Do you still have doubts?

That's OK. Pointers can get us all confused to some extent... If you're still unsure if this course is exactly what you're looking for, feel free to go over the full detailed curriculum.

In addition, we offer a full money-back guarantee for 30 days. So, you can enroll risk-free today, and get ready to master the world of advanced C programming! We can't wait to start this journey with you.

Who this course is for:

Basic knowledge (and Beyond) C Programming Developers
Students at the Computers and Engineering Faculties
C programmers who need to learn and understand Pointers In Depth
This course is not aimed for "total beginners". It's better to have some basic knowledge in C Programming before enrolling in this course. I would suggest purchasing my "C Programming for Beginners" course first, fully complete it and then come back to get ultimate experience with Pointers.

C Programming Masterclass: Pointers & Advanced C Language

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Welcome Aboard!3 lectures • 10min

Pointers - Introduction to Basics10 lectures • 1hr 21min

Pointers Arithmetic & “sizeof” operator8 lectures • 53min

Pointers Concept and Beyond6 lectures • 57min

Arrays & Pointers - Theory & Practical Exercises41 lectures • 5hr 48min

Arrays Swapping Exercises - Intermediate to Expert Questions!4 lectures • 35min

Dynamic Memory Allocation18 lectures • 3hr 18min

Advanced Exercises - Pointers & DMA9 lectures • 1hr 50min

2D Dynamically Allocated Arrays (Matrix)16 lectures • 2hr 33min

Strings & Pointers2 lectures • 29min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: