cpp / beginner
Snippet
Pointers and References
Pointers store memory addresses, while references are aliases to variables. Use * to dereference a pointer and & to get an address. Pointers can be reassigned; references cannot.
snippet.cpp
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int value = 42;int* ptr = &value;int& ref = value;*ptr = 100;ref = 200;std::cout << value << std::endl;
Breakdown
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int* ptr = &value;
Declares a pointer that holds the address of value
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int& ref = value;
Creates a reference as an alias for value
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*ptr = 100;
Dereferences ptr and writes 100 to the memory location