c syntax help - very basic

Question

If we have ``` char *val = someString; ``` and then say ``` if(val){ .... } ``` what is the `if` statement actually checking here?

Accepted Answer

Your `if` statement is equivalent to:

```
if (val != NULL) { ...
```

The comp.lang.c FAQ contains this question and answer which goes into a bit more detail why this is true.

Solution