I want to pass a two-dimensional array to a function, however, I want to do that with arbitrary size.

我想要将一个二维数组传递给一个函数，但是，我想用任意大小来做这件事。

First, please have a look to following code:

首先，请看一下以下代码：

#define MAX_ROWS 8
#define MAX_SIZE 32

static void foo(char array[][MAX_SIZE], size_t max_rows, size_t max_size) {
    for (size_t i = 0; i < max_rows; i++) {
        printf("%s\n", array[i]);
    }
}

int main(void) {
    char array[MAX_ROWS][MAX_SIZE];
    
    for (size_t i = 0; i < MAX_ROWS; i++) {
        snprintf(array[i], MAX_SIZE, "Row: %d", i);
    }
    
    foo(array, MAX_ROWS, MAX_SIZE);
    
    return 0;
}

A. This code works as expected. But there is one line I don't like:

答：这段代码的工作情况与预期相符。但有一句话我不喜欢：

static void foo(char array[][MAX_SIZE], size_t max_rows, size_t max_size)

I don't like it because not only I need to specify the maximum size two times, I need to hardcode the maximum size for the 2nd dimension to make it available during compile time.

我不喜欢它，因为我不仅需要指定两次最大大小，还需要硬编码第二维的最大大小，以便在编译时可用。

B. An alternative approach would be making an variable length array (VLA). For that we would need to change the order of the parameters so the size_t max_size appears before the array:

B.另一种方法是制作可变长度阵列(VLA)。为此，我们需要更改参数的顺序，以便大小_t最大大小显示在数组之前：

static void foo(size_t max_rows, size_t max_size, char array[][max_size])
foo(MAX_ROWS, MAX_SIZE, array);

I like this solution on one hand, but I don't like it on the other hand. It is part of the C99 standard but not supported by MSVC. Therefore, I simply can't use it.

一方面我喜欢这个解决方案，但另一方面我不喜欢它。它是C99标准的一部分，但不受MSVC支持。因此，我根本不能使用它。

Also I am not sure if this kind of use would be discouraged due to security reasons, even if the size is - due to the use of the macro constants - still de facto hardcoded and therefore actually not variable.

此外，我不确定这种使用是否会因为安全原因而不被鼓励，即使大小--由于使用了宏常量--实际上仍然是硬编码的，因此实际上不是可变的。

C. From what I understand, char array[MAX_ROWS][MAX_SIZE] is internally nothing more then a buffer with a size of max_rows * max_size * sizeof(char). So I was thinking about following solution, but this results in a Segmentation Fault:

C.据我所知，char数组[MAX_ROWS][MAX_SIZE]在内部只不过是一个大小为max_row*max_Size*sizeof(Char)的缓冲区。因此，我正在考虑以下解决方案，但这会导致分段故障：

static void foo(void *array0, size_t max_rows, size_t max_size) {
    size_t total_size = max_rows * max_size * sizeof(char);
    
    char *array = malloc(total_size);
    memcpy(array, array0, total_size);

    for (size_t i = 0; i < max_rows; i++) {
        printf("%s\n", array[i]);
    }

    free(array);
}

优秀答案推荐

You can use pointer arithmetic over a char *, this is how functions like qsort do it when they don't know the concrete type of the passed array:

您可以在char*上使用指针算法，这就是像qsort这样的函数在不知道传递的数组的具体类型时这样做的方式：

#include <stdio.h>

static void foo(void *array0, size_t max_rows, size_t max_size)
{
    const char *ptr = array0;

    for (size_t i = 0; i < max_rows; i++) {
        printf("%s\n", ptr);
        ptr += max_size;
    }
}

int main(void)
{
    enum {MAX_ROWS = 3, MAX_SIZE = 4};
    char array[MAX_ROWS][MAX_SIZE] = {"abc", "cde", "fgh"};

    foo(array, MAX_ROWS, MAX_SIZE);
    return 0;
}

Output:

产出：

abc
cde
fgh

Quote from the C-FAQ:

引用C-FAQ中的话：

It must be noted, however, that a program which performs
multidimensional array subscripting ``by hand'' in this way is not in
strict conformance with the ANSI C Standard; according to an official
interpretation, the behavior of accessing (&array[0][0])[x] is not
defined for x >= NCOLUMNS.

Therefore, this answer (and the other answer provided by @0___________ using row-major order) are not strictly conforming with the standard.

因此，这一答案(以及@0_提供的答案不严格符合标准。

Notes:

备注：

• C has no multi-dimensional arrays like FORTRAN. Just arrays.


• array is a name for an address and has a size, like in int array[40].
  
  
  
  • the name of the array points to its address.
  
  
  • the size is the product of the number of elements by the size of each one
  
  
  
  


• but C can have arrays of anything, so an array can be an array of arrays, an array of arrays of arrays, and so on.


• array elements are allocated in memory line after line, from left.

EXAMPLE

Consider this simple code

请考虑以下简单的代码

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    union
    {
        char i3D[2][2][2];
        char i1D[8];
    } view = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7};

    printf(
        "size of `char i3D[2][2][2]` is %u\n",
        sizeof(view.i3D));
    printf(
        "size of `char[2][2][2]` is %u\n",
        sizeof(char[2][2][2]));
    printf("size of `char` is %u\n", sizeof(char));

    printf(
        "first element is %d at 0x%p, last is %d at 0x%p\n",
        view.i3D[0][0][0], &view.i3D[0][0][0], view.i3D[1][1][1],
        &view.i3D[1][1][1]);
    char offset = &view.i3D[1][1][1] - &view.i3D[0][0][0];
    printf(
        "offset of the last element from the start is %d * "
        "sizeof(char) = %d\n",
        offset, offset * sizeof(view.i3D[0][0][0]));

    return 0;
}

That shows in a test run

这一点在试运行中得到了体现

size of `char i3D[2][2][2]` is 8
size of `char[2][2][2]` is 8
size of `char` is 1
first element is 0 at 0x012FFD44, last is 7 at 0x012FFD4B
offset of the last element from the start is 7 * sizeof(char) = 7

If we inspect memory at this address

如果我们检查此地址的内存

0x012FFD40  cc cc cc cc 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07  ÌÌÌÌ........
0x012FFD4C  cc cc cc cc 87 56 cb 02 74 fd 2f 01  ÌÌÌÌ.VË.tý/.
0x012FFD58  63 22 da 00 01 00 00 00 f0 5c 62 01  c"Ú.....ð\b.
0x012FFD64  08 63 62 01 01 00 00 00 f0 5c 62 01  .cb.....ð\b.
0x012FFD70  08 63 62 01 d0 fd 2f 01 b7 20 da 00  .cb.Ðý/.· Ú.

we see the array data at the expected address at runtime

我们在运行时在预期地址看到数组数据

Back to the original code

The code are trying to pass an array of strings to a foo() function.

代码试图将字符串数组传递给foo()函数。

As an example, this is the common prototype of main, for every C program:

例如，这是每个C程序的Main的公共原型：

    int main (int argc, char** argv)

And it does the same thing. And works, ever. The types are different, since foo() is declaring

它做的也是同样的事情。而且永远奏效。类型是不同的，因为foo()声明

    static void foo(char array[][MAX_SIZE], size_t max_rows, size_t max_size)

But inside foo() the rows are only accessed by a call to printf() as

但在foo()中，行只能通过调用printf()来访问，因为

     for (size_t i = 0; i < max_rows; i++)
        printf("%s\n", array[i]);

And %s is for a null-terminated string, so char_array in foo() is very much like argv in every C program

而%S表示以NULL结尾的字符串，因此foo()中的char_array非常类似于每个C程序中的argv

From a char block[10][20] to a char** line

In block we have a continuous block of data with 200 bytes. line is a single pointer.

在块中，我们有一个200字节的连续数据块。LINE是单指针。

• block[0] is char[20] and can have a string of up to 19 char plus the terminating NULL.


• from block[0] to block[9] we can have 10 of these strings.


• line can also be seen as an array. It is C array to pointer decay thing.


• *line is char*. It is the result of the * operator.


• line[0] is the same as *line. It is C *pointer arithmetic: line[0] = *(line + 0).


• **line is a single char. The first letter of the first string, like block[0][0] in block

But how do we know how many rows and lines are in block? And how many pointers in line?

We do not. We need to keep the dimensions saved elsewhere, or we count: this is why we need strlen() to compute a string size anytime we need. Something similar can for sure be used for line here, using a NULL pointer at the end of line

我们没有。我们需要将维度保存在其他地方，或者我们计数：这就是为什么我们需要strlen（）来随时计算字符串大小。类似的东西肯定可以用于这里的行，在行的末尾使用NULL指针

This is the reason for argc in main: keep count of the number of pointers in the argv array

这就是在main中使用argc的原因：计算argv数组中的指针数

Encapsulation and an example

I will write an example using this idea of encapsulation, enclosing the data in a struct and writing a minimum of functions to manipulate it.

我将使用这种封装思想编写一个示例，将数据封装在一个结构中，并编写最少的函数来操作它。

Using char**

Just as the system builds one for main we will create the argv array in line:

就像系统为Main构建一个一样，我们将创建一个argv数组：

    typedef struct
    {
        size_t incr;   // increment size
        size_t limit;  // actual allocated size
        size_t size;   // size in use
        char** line;   // the lines
    } Block;

Each block is created empty, with a size = limit. If needed a resize is made in terms of a set of incr pointers. The reason for this: reallocate memory can be expensive in terms of time, since the whole array may need to be copied.

每个块都是空创建的，大小=限制。如果需要，可以根据一组增量指针来调整大小。原因是：重新分配内存在时间上可能很昂贵，因为可能需要复制整个数组。

functions for Block

Block* create_blk(size_t size, size_t increment);
Block* delete_blk(Block* block_to_go);
int    resize_blk(Block* block_to_go);
int    show_blk(Block* block, const char* msg);

The mininum for testing. Function names are self explanatory.

测试的最低要求。函数名称是不言而喻的。

• show_blk() accepts an opional message


• resize() is implemented only for expansion. Reduce size is rivial if needed

A possible implementation an example of use is at the end of this post

本文末尾提供了一个可能的实现和使用示例

function helpers for testing

        Block* load_file(const char* file);

This function just loads a file into a new Block and returns the Block address. Easy way of testing the functions.

此函数只是将文件加载到新的块中，并返回块地址。测试功能的简单方法。

main() for a test

int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
    char msg[80] = {0};
    if (argc < 2) usage();
    Block* test = load_file(argv[1]);
    if (test == NULL) return -1;
    sprintf(
        msg, "\n\n==> Loading \"%s\" into memory", argv[1]);
    show_blk(test, msg);
    qsort(test->line, test->size, sizeof(void*), cmp_line);
    sprintf(msg, "\n\n==> \"%s\" after sort in-memory", argv[1]);
    show_blk(test, msg);
    test = delete_blk(test);
    return 0;
};

This program expects a file name on the command line. Then

该程序在命令行中需要一个文件名。然后

• creates a Block with all lines in file


• shows the contents of the struct as it is in memory


• calls qsort() to sort all lines inside the block


• shows the lines ordered, inside the struct


• deletes everything

output for p.exe stuff.h

Here is the output of a test using the file stuff.h

以下是使用文件stuff.h进行的测试的输出

loading "stuff.h" into memory
Block extended for a total of 20 pointers


==> Loading "stuff.h" into memory
Status: 18 of 20 lines. [Incr. is 16]:
   1    #pragma once
   2    #include <stdio.h>
   3    #include <stdlib.h>
   4    #include <string.h>
   5
   6    typedef struct
   7    {
   8        size_t incr;   // increment size
   9        size_t limit;  // actual allocated size
  10        size_t size;   // size in use
  11        char** line;   // the lines
  12
  13    } Block;
  14
  15    Block* create_blk(size_t size, size_t increment);
  16    Block* delete_blk(Block* block_to_go);
  17    int    resize_blk(Block* block_to_go);
  18    int    show_blk(Block* block, const char* msg);


==> "stuff.h" after sort in-memory
Status: 18 of 20 lines. [Incr. is 16]:
   1
   2
   3
   4        char** line;   // the lines
   5        size_t incr;   // increment size
   6        size_t limit;  // actual allocated size
   7        size_t size;   // size in use
   8    #include <stdio.h>
   9    #include <stdlib.h>
  10    #include <string.h>
  11    #pragma once
  12    Block* create_blk(size_t size, size_t increment);
  13    Block* delete_blk(Block* block_to_go);
  14    int    resize_blk(Block* block_to_go);
  15    int    show_blk(Block* block, const char* msg);
  16    typedef struct
  17    {
  18    } Block;

Complete code for stuff.h stuff.c main.c [this test]

stuff.h

#pragma once
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

typedef struct
{
    size_t incr;   // increment size
    size_t limit;  // actual allocated size
    size_t size;   // size in use
    char** line;   // the lines

} Block;

Block* create_blk(size_t size, size_t increment);
Block* delete_blk(Block* block_to_go);
int    resize_blk(Block* block_to_go);
int    show_blk(Block* block, const char* msg);

stuff.c

#include "stuff.h"

Block* create_blk(size_t size, size_t increment)
{
    Block* nb = (Block*)malloc(sizeof(Block));
    if (nb == NULL) return NULL;
    nb->incr  = increment;
    nb->limit = size;
    nb->size  = 0;
    nb->line  = (char**)malloc(sizeof(char*) * size);
    return nb;
}

Block* delete_blk(Block* blk)
{
    if (blk == NULL) return NULL;
    for (size_t i = 0; i < blk->size; i += 1)
        free(blk->line[i]);  // free lines
    free(blk->line);         // free block
    free(blk);               // free struct
    return NULL;
}

int resize_blk(Block* nb)
{
    const size_t new_sz = nb->limit + nb->incr;
    char*        new_block =
        realloc(nb->line, (new_sz * sizeof(char*)));
    if (new_block == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(
            stderr,
            "\tCould not extend block to %zd "
            "lines\n",
            new_sz);
        return -1;
    }
    nb->limit = new_sz;
    nb->line  = (char**)new_block;
    return 0;
}   // resize_blk()
 
int show_blk(Block* bl, const char* msg)
{
    if (msg != NULL) printf("%s\n", msg);
    if (bl == NULL)
    {
        printf("Status: not allocated\n");
        return -1;
    }
    printf(
        "Status: %zd of %zd lines. [Incr. is %zd]:\n",
        bl->size, bl->limit, bl->incr);
    for (unsigned i = 0; i < bl->size; i += 1)
        printf("%4d\t%s", 1 + i, bl->line[i]);
    return 0;
}

main.c

#include "stuff.h"

int    cmp_line(const void*, const void*);
Block* load_file(const char*);
void   usage();

int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
    char msg[80] = {0};
    if (argc < 2) usage();
    Block* test = load_file(argv[1]);
    if (test == NULL) return -1;
    sprintf(
        msg, "\n\n==> Loading \"%s\" into memory", argv[1]);
    show_blk(test, msg);
    qsort(test->line, test->size, sizeof(void*), cmp_line);
    sprintf(msg, "\n\n==> \"%s\" after sort in-memory", argv[1]);
    show_blk(test, msg);
    test = delete_blk(test);
    return 0;
};

int cmp_line(const void* one, const void* other)
{
    return strcmp(
        *((const char**)one), *((const char**)other));
}

Block* load_file(const char* f_name)
{
    if (f_name == NULL) return NULL;
    fprintf(stderr, "loading \"%s\" into memory\n", f_name);
    FILE* F = fopen(f_name, "r");
    if (F == NULL) return NULL;
    // file is open
    Block* nb = create_blk(4, 16);  // block size is 8
    char   line[200];
    char*  p = &line[0];
    p        = fgets(p, sizeof(line), F);
    while (p != NULL)
    {
        // is block full?
        if (nb->size >= nb->limit)
        {
            resize_blk(nb);
            printf(
                "Block extended for a total of %zd "
                "pointers\n",
                nb->limit);
        }
        // now copy the line
        nb->line[nb->size] = (char*)malloc(1 + strlen(p));
        strcpy(nb->line[nb->size], p);
        nb->size += 1;
        // read next line
        p = fgets(p, sizeof(line), F);
    };  // while()
    fclose(F);
    return nb;
}

void usage()
{
    fprintf(stderr, "Use: program file_to_load\n");
    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}

Not really tested, but it shows a way of writing this kind of stuff. As the code is in the stuff.c file it can be used in minutes in any program. Just include stuff.h.

没有经过真正的测试，但它展示了一种编写这种东西的方法。因为代码在Stuff.c文件中，所以它可以在几分钟内在任何程序中使用。只需包含Stuff.h。

The best way to go in my case - as recommended by @tstanisl - was to change the compiler in order to make use of a VLA, to be precise: In order to use a VMT, a variably-modified type. Not only is this anyway part of the C99 standard, it is mandatory in the upcoming C23 (see here), so I was wrong thinking it was discouraged.

在我的情况下，最好的方法-正如@tstanisl所建议的那样-是更改编译器以使用VLA，确切地说：为了使用VMT，一种可变修改的类型。这不仅是C99标准的一部分，而且在即将到来的C23中是强制性的（见这里），所以我错误地认为这是不鼓励的。

In my case I changed the compiler to Clang. Clang support in MSVC can be installed in

在我的例子中，我将编译器更改为Clang。MSVC中的Clang支持可安装在

New Project > Installed > Templates > Visual C++ > Cross Platform

新建项目>已安装>模板>Visual C++>跨平台

and then be enabled in

然后在以下位置启用

Project Properties > Configuration Properties > General > Platform Toolset.

项目属性>配置属性>常规>平台工具集。

void foo(void *array, size_t rows, size_t cols) {
    char *arr = array;
    for (size_t i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
        printf("%s\n", arr + i * cols);
    }
}

int main(void) {
    char array[10][100];
    
    for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(array) / sizeof(array[0]); i++) {
        snprintf(array[i], sizeof(array[0]) / sizeof(array[0][0]), "Row: %d", i);
    }
    
    foo(array, sizeof(array) / sizeof(array[0]), sizeof(array[0]) / sizeof(array[0][0]));
    
    return 0;
}