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Pointer Vs Reference variable in C/C++

Pointer Vs Reference
Pointer Vs Reference

As a beginner Most of the time one gets confused, if both are referring to the same things then what exactly they are. Let’s find out with a real-world scenario.

We all have a real name and a calling name by which your friend might call you and an address where we live. So calling name is a reference to me, your can call me by my real name as well as calling name. The address is the pointer where I live. So to meet me you have to either call me by name or calling name or use address to visit my house.

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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main(){
    string name = "Aditya" ;     // Real Name 
    string &adii = name;         // Calling name used by my friend 
    string *ptr  = &name;        // My address 0x7ffe8ab9a320

//<-------------Some Codes are in below section ----------------->
return 0;
}

You have three ways to meet me, in terms of the program you can access a variable in three different ways.

Note :- Reference variable must be initialized before compile , else who knows that you are know by other name too. 

std::cout<<"Actual Name is " <<name<<endl;
std::cout<<"Reference Name is "<<adii<<endl; 
std::cout<<"My Address is "<<ptr<<endl;
std::cout<<"Who lives at that address "<<*ptr<<endl;

Output
Actual Name is:- Aditya
Reference Name is :- Aditya
My Address is at:- 0x7ffe8ab9a320
Who lives at that address:- Aditya

Now you have to meet me in three different ways, why not change/Modify info.

//First you can directly modify using actual name  
name = "Aditya G";
std::cout<<name<<endl;
// output -> Aditya G

//second ,using reference name 
adii = "A Gaurav";
std::cout<<adii<<endl;
//output -> A Gaurav

//thrid, Using Pointer(Address)
*ptr = "Aditya Gaurav";
std::cout<<*ptr<<endl;
//output -> Aditya Gaurav 

// Now even if you access variable by first two ways you will find out info is updated everywhere.
std::cout<<adii<<endl;
//output -> Aditya Gaurav
std::cout<<name<<endl;
//output -> Aditya Gaurav

Even if you forget by now you can remember it as Your Name is a variable, your calling name is reference [Your friends used to call you] and your address is pointer by which people come to meet you from remote.

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11 comments

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