c - How is a string literal equal to char*, and how should I take a string as a parameter -

i have seen in several pieces of code string declared char*. how work, surely pointer single char, not array of chars makes string. if wished take string input method called this:

themethod("this string literal"); 

what datatype should parameter be?

surely pointer single char, not array of chars

it's pointer first character of array of char. 1 can access each element of array using pointer first element performing pointer arithmetic , "array" indexing.

what datatype should parameter be?

const char *, if don't wish modify characters within function (this general case), , char * if do.