uCalc API Version: 2.1.3-preview.2 Released: 6/16/2026

Warning

uCalc API Preview Release Notice:The documentation describes the intended behavior of the API. The current preview build contains incomplete features, unoptimized performance, and is subject to breaking changes.

ArgPtr

Method

Product: 

Fast Math Parser

Class: 

Callback

Retrieves the value of an argument that was passed as a pointer.

Syntax

ArgPtr(int)

Parameters

index
int
The 1-based index of the argument to retrieve.

Return

IntPtr

The memory address that was passed as the argument's value. Returns 0 if the argument is not a pointer type.

Remarks

The ArgPtr method is used within a callback to retrieve the value of an argument that was defined as a pointer type in a DefineFunction or DefineOperator signature.

The Core Distinction: ArgPtr vs. ArgAddr

It is crucial to understand the difference between retrieving a pointer value and retrieving the memory address of an argument. ArgPtr is for the former, while ArgAddr is for the latter.

MethodPurposeReturnsExample DefineFunction Parameter
cb.ArgPtr(n)Gets the value of the nth argument, which must be a pointer type.An address (as an IntPtr).MyFunc(p As Int Ptr)
cb.ArgAddr(n)Gets the memory address of the nth argument's storage location.The address where the argument's value is stored.MyFunc(x As Int)

In short, use ArgPtr when the argument is a pointer. Use ArgAddr to find out where any argument is stored in memory.

⚙️ Dereferencing the Pointer

The address returned by ArgPtr is most often used with uCalc.ValueAt to dereference the pointer and retrieve the data it points to. This allows a callback to read from or write to memory locations in the host application.

⚖️ Comparative Analysis

In native C++ or C# unsafe contexts, a callback might receive a raw pointer (int*) which can be dereferenced directly (*my_ptr). uCalc provides a safer, more abstract model. ArgPtr retrieves the pointer value as a managed handle/integer, which is then safely dereferenced using engine functions like ValueAt. This insulates the user from raw memory manipulation while still providing the power of pointer-based data access.

Examples

How to handle and retrieve various data types (including pointers) within a callback.
				
					using uCalcSoftware;

var uc = new uCalc();

static void MyFunction(uCalc.Callback cb) {
   var uc = cb.uCalc;
   Console.WriteLine("------ MyFunc ------");

   // Retrieve standard 32-bit and 64-bit integer arguments directly
   Console.WriteLine(cb.ArgInt32(1));
   Console.WriteLine(cb.ArgInt64(2));

   // Retrieve the value of a pointer argument by referencing its exact data type.
   Console.WriteLine(uc.ItemOf("Int8").DataType.ToString(cb.ArgAddr(3)));

   // The Item object correctly identifies the type before conversion
   Console.WriteLine(uc.ItemOf("Int").DataType.ToString(cb.ArgPtr(4)));
}

static void MyFunction2(uCalc.Callback cb) {
   var uc = cb.uCalc;
   Console.WriteLine("------ MyFunc2 ------");
   Console.WriteLine(uc.DataTypeOf(BuiltInType.Integer_8).ToString(cb.ArgPtr(1)));
}

static void MyFunction3(uCalc.Callback cb) {
   var uc = cb.uCalc;
   Console.WriteLine("------ MyFunc3 ------");
   Console.WriteLine(uc.DataTypeOf(BuiltInType.Integer_16).ToString(cb.ArgPtr(1)));
}

uc.DefineVariable("x As Int = 123"); // Int32
uc.DefineVariable("xPtr As Int Ptr = AddressOf(x)");
uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc(a As Int32, b As Int64, c As Byte, d As Int Ptr)", MyFunction);
uc.Eval("MyFunc(x*10, 1+1, 255, xPtr)");

uc.DefineVariable("x2 As Int8 = -123");
uc.DefineVariable("xPtr2 As Int8 Ptr = AddressOf(x2)");
uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc2(d As Int8 Ptr)", MyFunction2);
uc.Eval("MyFunc2(xPtr2)");

uc.DefineVariable("x3 As Int16 = 1234");
uc.DefineVariable("xPtr3 As Int16 Ptr = AddressOf(x3)");
uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc3(d As Int16 Ptr)", MyFunction3);
uc.Eval("MyFunc3(xPtr3)");
				
			
------ MyFunc ------
1230
2
-1
123
------ MyFunc2 ------
-123
------ MyFunc3 ------
1234
				
					#include <iostream>
#include "uCalc.h"

using namespace std;
using namespace uCalcSoftware;

void ucalc_call MyFunction(uCalcBase::Callback cb) {
   auto uc = cb.uCalc();
   cout << "------ MyFunc ------" << endl;

   // Retrieve standard 32-bit and 64-bit integer arguments directly
   cout << cb.ArgInt32(1) << endl;
   cout << cb.ArgInt64(2) << endl;

   // Retrieve the value of a pointer argument by referencing its exact data type.
   cout << uc.ItemOf("Int8").DataType().ToString(cb.ArgAddr(3)) << endl;

   // The Item object correctly identifies the type before conversion
   cout << uc.ItemOf("Int").DataType().ToString(cb.ArgPtr(4)) << endl;
}

void ucalc_call MyFunction2(uCalcBase::Callback cb) {
   auto uc = cb.uCalc();
   cout << "------ MyFunc2 ------" << endl;
   cout << uc.DataTypeOf(BuiltInType::Integer_8).ToString(cb.ArgPtr(1)) << endl;
}

void ucalc_call MyFunction3(uCalcBase::Callback cb) {
   auto uc = cb.uCalc();
   cout << "------ MyFunc3 ------" << endl;
   cout << uc.DataTypeOf(BuiltInType::Integer_16).ToString(cb.ArgPtr(1)) << endl;
}
int main() {
   uCalc uc;
   uc.DefineVariable("x As Int = 123"); // Int32
   uc.DefineVariable("xPtr As Int Ptr = AddressOf(x)");
   uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc(a As Int32, b As Int64, c As Byte, d As Int Ptr)", MyFunction);
   uc.Eval("MyFunc(x*10, 1+1, 255, xPtr)");

   uc.DefineVariable("x2 As Int8 = -123");
   uc.DefineVariable("xPtr2 As Int8 Ptr = AddressOf(x2)");
   uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc2(d As Int8 Ptr)", MyFunction2);
   uc.Eval("MyFunc2(xPtr2)");

   uc.DefineVariable("x3 As Int16 = 1234");
   uc.DefineVariable("xPtr3 As Int16 Ptr = AddressOf(x3)");
   uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc3(d As Int16 Ptr)", MyFunction3);
   uc.Eval("MyFunc3(xPtr3)");
}
				
			
------ MyFunc ------
1230
2
-1
123
------ MyFunc2 ------
-123
------ MyFunc3 ------
1234
				
					Imports System
Imports uCalcSoftware
Public Module Program
   
   Public Sub MyFunction(ByVal cb As uCalc.Callback)
      Dim uc = cb.uCalc
      Console.WriteLine("------ MyFunc ------")
      
      '// Retrieve standard 32-bit and 64-bit integer arguments directly
      Console.WriteLine(cb.ArgInt32(1))
      Console.WriteLine(cb.ArgInt64(2))
      
      '// Retrieve the value of a pointer argument by referencing its exact data type.
      Console.WriteLine(uc.ItemOf("Int8").DataType.ToString(cb.ArgAddr(3)))
      
      '// The Item object correctly identifies the type before conversion
      Console.WriteLine(uc.ItemOf("Int").DataType.ToString(cb.ArgPtr(4)))
   End Sub
   
   Public Sub MyFunction2(ByVal cb As uCalc.Callback)
      Dim uc = cb.uCalc
      Console.WriteLine("------ MyFunc2 ------")
      Console.WriteLine(uc.DataTypeOf(BuiltInType.Integer_8).ToString(cb.ArgPtr(1)))
   End Sub
   
   Public Sub MyFunction3(ByVal cb As uCalc.Callback)
      Dim uc = cb.uCalc
      Console.WriteLine("------ MyFunc3 ------")
      Console.WriteLine(uc.DataTypeOf(BuiltInType.Integer_16).ToString(cb.ArgPtr(1)))
   End Sub
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim uc As New uCalc()
      uc.DefineVariable("x As Int = 123") '// Int32
      uc.DefineVariable("xPtr As Int Ptr = AddressOf(x)")
      uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc(a As Int32, b As Int64, c As Byte, d As Int Ptr)", AddressOf MyFunction)
      uc.Eval("MyFunc(x*10, 1+1, 255, xPtr)")
      
      uc.DefineVariable("x2 As Int8 = -123")
      uc.DefineVariable("xPtr2 As Int8 Ptr = AddressOf(x2)")
      uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc2(d As Int8 Ptr)", AddressOf MyFunction2)
      uc.Eval("MyFunc2(xPtr2)")
      
      uc.DefineVariable("x3 As Int16 = 1234")
      uc.DefineVariable("xPtr3 As Int16 Ptr = AddressOf(x3)")
      uc.DefineFunction("MyFunc3(d As Int16 Ptr)", AddressOf MyFunction3)
      uc.Eval("MyFunc3(xPtr3)")
   End Sub
End Module
				
			
------ MyFunc ------
1230
2
-1
123
------ MyFunc2 ------
-123
------ MyFunc3 ------
1234
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