Pointers in C++ are variables that store the memory address of another variable. They are declared using the *
operator and are useful for direct memory manipulation.
Example:
cpp
int x = 42;
int *ptr = &x; // Pointer 'ptr' stores the address of 'x'
cout << *ptr; // Dereferencing 'ptr' gives the value of 'x' (42)
Key Features:
- Dynamic Memory Allocation: Use
new
anddelete
for memory management. - Passing by Reference: Use pointers in functions to modify actual arguments.
- Data Structures: Essential for linked lists, trees, etc.
- Pointer Arithmetic: Navigate arrays efficiently.
While powerful, pointers must be handled cautiously to avoid memory leaks and segmentation faults.