c - Dynamically allocating a 2D string array -

the code seems on right track skips out on row , disregards first element [0,0] pushing element.

#include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h>   int main() {   char **nums;   int i,j,k, num_cases;   int rows, cols;    printf("enter number of grids.\n");   scanf("%d", &num_cases);     for(k=0;k<num_cases;k++){     printf("test case #%d\n", k+1);     printf("enter # of rows & columns separated space.\n");     scanf("%d%d", &rows, &cols);      nums = (char**)malloc(rows*sizeof(char*));      for(i=0; i<rows; i++){       nums[i] = (char*)malloc(cols*sizeof(char));     }      printf("enter %dx%d grid of letters.\n", rows, cols);     for(i=0; i<rows; i++){       for(j=0; j<cols; j++){         scanf("%c", &nums[i][j]);       }     }   }    for(i=0; i<rows; i++){     for(j=0; j<cols; j++){       printf("[%d][%d] = %c\n", i, j, nums[i][j]);     }   }    for(i=0; i<rows; i++){     free(nums[i]);   }    free(nums);   return 0; } 

this line

scanf("%d%d", &rows, &cols); 

is leaving newline in input buffer, because "%d" format consumes leading whitespace not trailing whitespace. when line executed

scanf("%c", &nums[i][j]); 

it reads newline left. can deal adding space in front of "%c" this

scanf(" %c", &nums[i][j]); 

which consume leading whitespace before char want read.