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char is a type and c is a name, to me, it always make more sense to put the name alone and have the type together, like "char* c", I can tell immediately that it is a pointer to a char, so its always goes like [type] [name].
But in contrast, most C/C++ code I found prefer the other way around, like "char *c". Is there any specific reasons why this is so?
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No idea from where this comes, but I also prefer char* c before char *c.
My only Argument:
In case you have a e.g. a method with an argument you don't use, something like
void Method(Object* Sender)
my Compiler shows a warning.
To avoid the warning I Need to
void Method(Object* /Sender/)
or
void Method(Object* )
that's why for me char* c is more intuitive.
On the other Hand variable declaration....
char *a, *b;
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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I also prefer char* c as char* is a type, in this case a pointer to a char.
Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film. Steven Wright
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Goes back to K&R, they invented the thing and people followed their style.
also in C you cant declare arrays that way:
char c[];
char[] d;
Tis the style of this language, inasmuch to continue that style far more logical to write */
char *e;
1. and so "char* c" is stylistically wrong in both C & C++. (And older compilers will correctly flag that as an error.)
2. In C "char *" is not a type, it's a pointer to a type. Yup, pointers are not types, they are pointers.
... cats, dogs and cows are types of animal, beef is not an animal but it does 'refer' to one
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I would say "*" is a type modifier 
[Edit]
Quote: In C "char *" is not a type
Really? Ok I don't know C, but I think this is also allowed in C
typedef char@ theCharPointerType;
@ instead of *, because * seems to be a Problem in cp
And if the above is ok in C, how can you state that a pointer to char is not a type?
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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cant be a type modifier either,
char *c --> * means pointer, "char" is is the default 'pointed to' modifier for that declaration.
In the language definition it's valid to cast a * to address any [other] type. If the type was considered "char*" or in fact if "char" had anything to do with 'the type' then casting pointers to address other type would become wrong.
hence:
char* c" /* is wrong, "char*" is NOT the type because there is no such thing, it's wrong, plain wrong! */
char *c /* is the proper form */
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Can be, it is anyway a more philosophical Thing. In case char* is plain wrong it should not be allowed to do this: typedef char* myCharPtr;
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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Lopatir is correct. The way to read the declaration
char *c
is: c (the name of the variable)
is a pointer (the * prefix)
to a character (the type)
where the pointer property actually belongs to the variable, not the type.
Having said that I always write:
char* c
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How the hell you can break such a rule? Please refracte (does this word really exists?) all your source code ...please!!! 
[Edit]
Btw, I don't think Lopidar is right. Started with Modula and read a lot from "Niklaus Wirth" theories, also I did a lot of Compiler implementations
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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0x01AA wrote: Please refracte
The correct word would be "refactor". But at my age I may not have enough time to get it all done. 
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So I Need to write: Do refactor your code?
Quote: But at my age I may not have enough time to get it all done
Stop thinking like this!! You have all the time
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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(Just a thought)
"*" works like a "modifier" (in this case); so there "should" be a space ? (e.g. char * e);
But does it then become an "operator" ?
While "_e" is a valid name; as a name, "*e" is NOT valid. (What would a "cross-reference" listing say about "names" and "type").
If we keep the same "characters", the one that feels "more satisfying" (to me) is:
*char e;
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".
― Blaise Pascal
modified 29-May-18 13:11pm.
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char *c was the old K&R way.
Yes char* c looks better.
modified 27-May-18 15:17pm.
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I prefer "char* c". Long ago I used the other form but an article I read long ago convinced me that the 'type' should be emphasized as different from the variable.
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how do you do: "char c[]" ?? "char[] c" wont compile, so that "type/name" logic is already broken for C/C++.
The article you read was written by someone that either referred to a different programming language, or doesn't understand the C/C++ language definitions; char* is not a type in C/C++.
For real fun, have you considered "char *c[]" ...
writing that the wrong way as "char* c[]" obviously looks, reads and is just plain wrong because that would read as an "array of pointers" when what I wanted was a "pointer to an array."
Personal style is OK, but justifying it as proper with a mistake isn't.
In short: if you prefer the look of "char* c" carry on, just remember it's a pointer, not a type.
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Lopatir wrote: The article you read was written by someone that either referred to a different programming language, or doesn't understand the C/C++ language definitions; char* is not a type in C/C++.
Far as I can recall it was a columnist in the C++ Programmers Journal. I suspect that they did in fact have a passing familiarity with the language. And since at least two columnists in that magazine participated in the C++ ANSI committee I suspect that their opinion on that subject of C++ would have carried more weight than any other random developer. They provided a rational for why that form was more appropriate which, far as I can recall, was not grounded solely in the semantics in the language but more in common usage of type specifiers. But I could certainly be mistaken about what they actually said.
Not to mention of course "The Annotated C++ Reference Manual" written by Ellis and Stroustrup which in section 4.7 has the following code examples.
void f(char* cptr, void* vptr)
...
int* p1 =
...
char* cptr;
int* iptr;
void* vptr;
So seems like the creator of the language prefers that form as well.
My original usage was grounded in the form you are championing but that was based on K&R. I found the article I read persuasive enough that I started using the other form.
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To remind users that
char* a , b
may not do what they intend.
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Which is why I never use comma separated variable declarations.
char* a , b, c[12], *d[5];
char* a;
char b;
char c[12];
char* d[5];
www.pointwise.com
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Nor do I. I'm of the opinion that doing so should at least raise a warning.
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the variable is the type, and the type stays the type. The * goes with the variable because you're modifying defining how the variable will be using the type. You're not, as it were, modifying the type.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: the variable is the type, and the type stays the type. The * goes with the variable because you're modifying defining how the variable will be using accessing the type value. You're not, as it were, modifying the type.
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OK, fair enough.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Great answer. When I define a pointer I'm using char *p; because this is pointer. It stores an address and points a char value in this address. So, '*' is serving as a pointing device for p address register, (I think) it must be declared with address register.
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My 2 cents, I prefer
char* c; too, as I've learned years ago.
To quote Wikipedia and what I've learned (Pointers section) : "A pointer is a data type that contains the address of a storage location of a variable of a particular type."
Nevertheless, this same Wikipedia section points out that writing it is a matter of style :
char* c;
char * c; or
char *c;
All right for everyone 
Not mentioning the confusing writing for arrays of pointers...
So the type of "char*" is a "pointer on a char".
The type of "int*" is a "pointer on an int".
And so on...
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