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Difference between pointer and reference in C++
In C++, pointers and references are both used to manipulate memory and access variables. However, there are key differences between them:
- Definition: A pointer is a variable that stores the memory address of another variable. A reference, on the other hand, is an alias for another variable.
- Nullability: Pointers can be assigned a null value, indicating that they do not point to any valid memory location. References must always be initialized and cannot be null.
- Reassignment: Pointers can be reassigned to point to different memory locations, while references cannot be re-assigned to refer to a different variable.
- Pointer arithmetic: Pointers can be manipulated using pointer arithmetic, allowing for direct memory manipulation. References do not support arithmetic operations.
Overall, while both pointers and references have their uses in C++, understanding the differences between them is crucial for writing efficient and error-free code.
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