Reading declarations is a must if not for anything than to pass interviews!
Two simple ways have been presented, Reading from right to left or converting the whole declaration to a normal left to right form.
Enjoy. Any feedback is welcome!
Method 1:
Declaration	Reading from Right to Left, Read as		Locate the identifier, Read as identifier is
int p;	p is an integer
int p[10];	p is an array of 10 integers		See if we have hit the end of the road, i.e,    ;
unsigned int p;	p is an unsigned integer		If we have, start reading reverse, we have 2 possibilities, a pointer or a Reserved word
int p[5][12];	p is a 5 by 12 array of integers
int p();	p is a function returning an integer		If not we have 3 possibilities, a pointer an array or a function
long int p(char);	p is a function with a character as an input and returning a long integer		A pointer is possible only if the identifier is immediately postfixed with a closing bracket
char *p;	p is a pointer to a character		A decision of pointer or an array or function is taken on the basis of a simple bracket ()
char **p;	p is a pointer to a pointer to a character		A bracket has the highest precedence.
char *p[10];	p is an array of 10 pointers to characters		An array or function has the next precedence and they can never occur together
double (*p)[20];	p is a pointer to an array of 20 doubles		A prefixed pointer has the least precedence.
int *(*p)[15];	p is a pointer to an array of 15 pointers to integers
char *(*p[])();	p is an array of pointers to  functions returning  pointers to  characters		A pointer is always prefixed
void (*p())();	p is a function returninga pointer to a function returning void		An array or function is always postfixed and never occur side by side
int (*p)();	p is a pointer to a function returning an integer		Would have a bracket always seperating them
int *p();	p is a function returning a pointer to an integer
int (**p)[];	p is a pointer to a pointer to an array of integers		identifier is read as: identifier is
int (**p)();	p is a pointer to a pointer to a function returning an integer		Reserved words are read either in singular or plural,  a character or characters,
int *(*p)[];	p is a pointer to an array of pointers to integers		an integer, or an unsigned integer
int (*p)[][];	p is a pointer to a 2 dimensional array of integers		[] : an array of
int *(*p)();	p is a pointer to a function returning a pointer to an integer		(): a function returning  or functions returning
int **p[];	p is an array of pointers to pointers to integers		* a pointer to or pointers to
int (*p[])[];	p is an array of pointers to an array of integers
int (*p[])();	p is an array of pointers to functions returning  integers		Illegal Declarations
int *p[][];	p is a 2 dimension array of pointers to integers		Array and functions side by side without a bracket in between
int **p();	p is a function returning a pointer to a pointer to an integer		int p[]();               array of functions
int (*p())[];	p is a function returning a pointer to an array of integers		int p()[];                function returning an array
int (*p())();	p is a function returning a pointer to a function returning an integer		int p()();               function returning function
char *p[ 3 ][ 4 ];	p is a 3 by 4 array of pointers to characters		int (*p)[]();         array of functions
int *(*p[ 10 ])();	p is an array of pointers to functions returning pointers to integers		int (*p)()[];         function returning array
			int (*p)()();          function returning function

Method 2:
Start with the identifier
Write as is upto the semi colon
Replace brackets with their contents, pointer or pointers towards the closing bracket
Go in  reverse sequence after the semi colon.
Declaration	Convert to Normal form, Left to Right
	Start with	Proceed upto the end ( ;)			End with	Return  Home
	Identifier	Left to Right (Forward)			;	Right to Left (Reverse)
int p;	p				;	int
	p is					an integer
int p[10];	p	[10]			;	int
	p is	an array of 10				integers
unsigned int p;	p				;	unsigned int
	p is					an unsigned integer
int p[5][12];	p	[5][12]			;	int
	p is	a 5 by 12 array of				integers
int p();	p	()			;	int
	p is	a function returning				an integer
long int p(char);	p	(char)			;	long int
	p is	a function with a character as an input and returning				a long integer
char *p;	p				;	*	char
	p is					a pointer to	a character
char **p;	p				;	*	*	char
	p is					a pointer to	a pointer to	a character
char *p[10];	p	[10]			;	*	char
	p is	an array of 10				pointers to	characters
double (*p)[20];	p	*	[20]		;	double
	p is	a pointer to	an array of 20			doubles
int *(*p)[15];	p	*	[15]		;	*	int
	p is	a pointer to	an array of 15			pointers to	integers
char *(*p[])();	p	[]	*	()	;	*	char
	p is	an array of	pointers to	functions returning		pointers to	characters
void (*p())();	p	()	*	()	;	void
	p is	a function returning	a pointer to	a function returning
int (*p)();	p	*	()		;	int
	p is	a pointer to	a function returning			an integer
int *p();	p	()			;	*	int
	p is	a function returning				a pointer to	an integer
int (**p)[];	p	*	*	[]	;	int
	p is	a pointer to	a pointer to	an array of		integers
int (**p)();	p	*	*	()	;	int
	p is	a pointer to	a pointer to	a function returning		an integer
int *(*p)[];	p	*	[]		;	*	int
	p is	a pointer to	an array of			pointers to	integers
int (*p)[][];	p	*	[][]		;	int
	p is	a pointer to	a 2 dimensional array			integers
int *(*p)();	p	*	()		;	*	int
	p is	a pointer to	a function returning			a pointer to	an integer
int **p[];	p	[]			;	*	*	int
	p is	an array of				pointers to	pointers to	integers
int (*p[])[];	p	[]	*	[]	;	int
	p is	an array of	pointers to	an array of		integers
int (*p[])();	p	[]	*	()	;	int
	p is	an array of	pointers to	functions returning		integers
int *p[][];	p	[][]	*		;	int
	p is	a 2 dimensional array	pointers to			integers
int **p();	p	()			;	*	*	int
	p is	a function returning				a pointer to	a pointer to	an integer
int (*p())[];	p	()	*	[]	;	int
	p is	a function returning	a pointer to	an array of		integers
int (*p())();	p	()	*	()	;	int
	p is	a function returning	a pointer to	a function returning		an integer
char *p[ 3 ][ 4 ];	p	[3][4]			;	*	char
	p is	a 3 by 4 array of				pointers to	characters
int *(*p[ 10 ])();	p	[10]	*	()	;	*	int
	p is	an array of 10	pointers to	functions returning		pointers to	integers
int (*p[])();	p	[]	*	()	;	int
	p is	an array of	pointers to	functions returning		integers
Illegal Declarations	Array and functions side by side without a bracket in between
int p[][]();	array of functions		int p()[][];	function returning 2 dimensional  arrays
int *p[]();	array of functions		int p()[]();	function returning array of functions
int p[]()[];	array of functions returning arrays		int *p()();	function returning function
int p[]()();	array of functions returning functions
int *p()[];	function returning array

Reading C
Declarations

Introduction

Concept 1

Concept 2

Concept 3

Concept 4

Home

Contact

Links

Assembly
Reference