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Reference

what is reference?

Reference is a safer way to use pointer. It is better to use reference when there is no direct operaiton like +, - on pointer.

  • Refernece is an alias to an already existing variable.

  • A reference can not be NULL.

  • A refernece must be initialized when it is created.

  • Once a reference is initialized, it cannot be changed to point another object.

    int number1 = 10;
int number2 = 20;
int& ref = number1;
ref = number2; 
cout << number1 << "," << ref << ", " << number2 << endl; //20, 20, 20

  • When code converted to an assmbly-language, there are no differneces between pointer and reference. Reference is based on a language level support that limit some possibilities from pointer.