Difference between these two declarations of dynamic arrays of objects of type test?

Question

Why does the pointer ptr allows us to access its member function through the dot operator . while pt doesn't as it requires the indirection operator -> ?

int n = 5;
test* ptr = new test[n];
ptr[1].print();
test* pt[45];
pt[1] = new test(2,3);
pt[1]->print();

Answer 1

Because they're different things.

ptr is a pointer of type test* , it points to the 1st element of the array test[n] , whose elements are of type test , then ptr[1] gives the 2nd element with type test .

pt is an array, whose elements are of type test* , then pt[1] gives the 2nd element with type test* .

Answer 2

because ptr is an array and ptr[1] alreadey derefrenced the pointer. While pt is array of pointers you need to derefrence twice.