Difference between Pass by Value and Pass by Reference in C/C++

Pass by value and pass by reference are two common ways of passing arguments to functions in C and C++. The key difference lies in how the function parameters are handled:

Pass by Value:

When passing by value, a copy of the actual parameter is made and passed to the function. This means that any modifications made to the parameter inside the function do not affect the original value outside the function.

Pass by Reference:

With pass by reference, the memory address of the actual parameter is passed to the function. This allows the function to directly modify the original value of the parameter, as it is working with the same memory location.

It is important to consider the implications of pass by value and pass by reference when designing functions in C and C++, as they have different effects on the behavior of the program.