THINK++ — Engineering Visualized

Aliases

C++ References

A reference is an alternative name (alias) for an existing variable. It acts like a second label for the same memory location.

SYNTAX

int x = 10;
int &ref = x; // ref is an alias for x

ref = 20;    // x becomes 20!

NO NULL REFERENCES

Unlike pointers, references CANNOT be null. They must always refer to a valid object.

PERMANENT BINDING

Once a reference is bound to a variable, it cannot be changed to refer to something else.

POINTERS VS REFERENCES

Pointers can be reassigned and be null; references are cleaner and safer but less flexible. Use references for parameters and pointers for dynamic data structures.

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