Pointer variables

A pointer variable

Is a variable that contains the address in memory of an object.

Has a type, that matches the type of the objects that it can point to.

Can be made to point to any object of the appropriate type.

Can be used to access the object that it points to.

Is indicated by the *operator in the declaration.

Examples:

int *foo;

double *distance;

char *cp;

int *list[10];

The & operator

When applied to an object, returns the address in memory of that object.

Can be used to initialize a pointer variable.

  int i = 5;
  double radius = 3.7;
  char c;

  foo = &i;

  distance = &radius;

  cp = &c;

So, what do we get if we execute:

cout << *foo;

cout << *distance;

cout << *cp;

Pointer variables

Another way to accomplish the same thing as reference parameters is to use pointers.