How to manipulate a variable value using an array?

[amateurrobotguy]

int *ptr;
int a, b;

a = 10;
ptr = &a;
b = *ptr;

Why bother with the int *ptr declaration when it has to be used again in the b= part? Is this just proper etiquette and not really needed?

Is this alright for my declaration:
int joystickbuttons[8] = {&p1_sw_trig, &p1_sw_top, &pl_sw_aux1, &p1_sw_aux2, &p2_sw_trig, &p2_sw_top, &p2_sw_aux1, &p2_sw_aux2};

And this for my looped search:
if ((*)joystickbuttons[arrayindexer[1]] == 1)

arrayindexer is just a simple array I am using for a counter.


If all this looks good then it means I finally figured this whole pointer thingie out largely thanks to this forum and Wiki.