pointer
A data type found in computer programming languages such as C++. It is a variable that holds the memory address of another variable.
Dynamic allocation of memory is possible through the use of pointers.
Dynamic allocation of memory is possible through the use of pointers.
Example:
Examples using pointers:
int i = 5; // declares an integer with an initial value of 5
int *p = &i; // declares a pointer to an integer and assigns
the address of i to it
cout << i; // outputs the number 5 to the console
cout << &i; // outputs the address of i to the console
cout << p; // same result as above
cout << *p; // outputs the value pointed to by p (5)
*p = 10; // changes the value of i to 10
int *arr = new int n; // creates an array containing
n elements and assigns its address to arr
(dynamic allocation)
delete arr; // deletes the memory space arr points to
(does not delete the pointer itself!)
Examples using pointers:
int i = 5; // declares an integer with an initial value of 5
int *p = &i; // declares a pointer to an integer and assigns
the address of i to it
cout << i; // outputs the number 5 to the console
cout << &i; // outputs the address of i to the console
cout << p; // same result as above
cout << *p; // outputs the value pointed to by p (5)
*p = 10; // changes the value of i to 10
int *arr = new int n; // creates an array containing
n elements and assigns its address to arr
(dynamic allocation)
delete arr; // deletes the memory space arr points to
(does not delete the pointer itself!)