C Nested Structures

1. What are C Nested Structures?

A C Nested Structures is a structure that contains another structure as a member.
Useful for representing complex data objects like a student with an address, or an employee with a date of joining.

Syntax:

2. Example: Student with Nested Date of Birth

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>struct Date {
int day;
int month;
int year;
};

struct Student {
char name[50];
struct Date dob; // nested structure
};

int main() {
struct Student s1;

strcpy(s1.name, "Alice");
s1.dob.day = 15;
s1.dob.month = 8;
s1.dob.year = 2005;

printf("Name: %s\n", s1.name);
printf("DOB: %02d-%02d-%d\n", s1.dob.day, s1.dob.month, s1.dob.year);

return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>

#include <string.h>struct Date {

int day;

int month;

int year;

};

struct Student {

char name[50];

struct Date dob; // nested structure

};

int main() {

struct Student s1;

strcpy(s1.name, "Alice");

s1.dob.day = 15;

s1.dob.month = 8;

s1.dob.year = 2005;

printf("Name: %s\n", s1.name);

printf("DOB: %02d-%02d-%d\n", s1.dob.day, s1.dob.month, s1.dob.year);

return 0;

}

Output:

3. Nested Structures with Pointers

#include <stdio.h>

struct Date {
int day;
int month;
int year;
};

struct Student {
char name[50];
struct Date *dob; // pointer to nested structure
};

int main() {
struct Date d1 = {15, 8, 2005};
struct Student s1;
s1.dob = &d1;
strcpy(s1.name, "Alice");

printf("Name: %s\n", s1.name);
printf("DOB: %02d-%02d-%d\n", s1.dob->day, s1.dob->month, s1.dob->year);

return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>

struct Date {

int day;

int month;

int year;

};

struct Student {

char name[50];

struct Date *dob; // pointer to nested structure

};

int main() {

struct Date d1 = {15, 8, 2005};

struct Student s1;

s1.dob = &d1;

strcpy(s1.name, "Alice");

printf("Name: %s\n", s1.name);

printf("DOB: %02d-%02d-%d\n", s1.dob->day, s1.dob->month, s1.dob->year);

return 0;

}

Output:

Use -> operator when accessing members through a pointer.

4. Example: Employee with Address

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>struct Address {
char city[50];
char state[50];
int pin;
};

struct Employee {
char name[50];
int id;
struct Address addr; // nested structure
};

int main() {
struct Employee e1;

strcpy(e1.name, "Bob");
e1.id = 101;
strcpy(e1.addr.city, "Mumbai");
strcpy(e1.addr.state, "Maharashtra");
e1.addr.pin = 400001;

printf("Employee: %s, ID: %d\n", e1.name, e1.id);
printf("Address: %s, %s - %d\n", e1.addr.city, e1.addr.state, e1.addr.pin);

return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>

#include <string.h>struct Address {

char city[50];

char state[50];

int pin;

};

struct Employee {

char name[50];

int id;

struct Address addr; // nested structure

};

int main() {

struct Employee e1;

strcpy(e1.name, "Bob");

e1.id = 101;

strcpy(e1.addr.city, "Mumbai");

strcpy(e1.addr.state, "Maharashtra");

e1.addr.pin = 400001;

printf("Employee: %s, ID: %d\n", e1.name, e1.id);

printf("Address: %s, %s - %d\n", e1.addr.city, e1.addr.state, e1.addr.pin);

return 0;

}

Output:

5. Key Points About Nested Structures

Nested structures allow grouping related structures into one.
Access nested members using dot . operator for normal variables.
Access nested members using arrow -> operator for pointers.
Useful for complex records like employee, student, or product information.
Can be combined with arrays for multiple records.

C Nested Structures

1. What are C Nested Structures?

2. Example: Student with Nested Date of Birth

3. Nested Structures with Pointers

4. Example: Employee with Address

5. Key Points About Nested Structures

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