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Programming Fundamentals: Pointers

The document discusses pointers in C++. It defines pointers as variables that store memory addresses and notes they are one of the most powerful tools for C++ programmers. It explains that variables are stored at unique memory locations, and pointers can store these memory addresses. The document outlines key pointer concepts like address-of operator, dereference operator, initializing pointers, distinguishing pointers, addresses, and variable values.

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kanwal hafeez
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98 views

Programming Fundamentals: Pointers

The document discusses pointers in C++. It defines pointers as variables that store memory addresses and notes they are one of the most powerful tools for C++ programmers. It explains that variables are stored at unique memory locations, and pointers can store these memory addresses. The document outlines key pointer concepts like address-of operator, dereference operator, initializing pointers, distinguishing pointers, addresses, and variable values.

Uploaded by

kanwal hafeez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Programming Fundamentals

Pointers
Pointers
• One of the most powerful tools available

to a C++ programmer is the ability to

manipulate computer memory directly

by using pointers

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 2


What Is a Pointer?
• A pointer is a variable that stores a memory
address
• Computer memory is divided into sequentially
numbered memory locations
• Each variable is located at a unique location
in memory, known as its address
• The address stored in a pointer usually
corresponds to the position in memory where
a variable is located

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 3


What Is a Pointer?

int num = 10;

num

10
709 710 711 712 713

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 4


Address-Of (&) Operator
• Before looking into Pointers, lets look at
“address-of” operator (&)
• If we use address-of operator before a
variable name it returns the memory address
of that variable
int num = 10;
cout<<"Address:"<<&num<<endl;

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 5


Storing the Address in a
Pointer
• Every variable has an address
• We can store that address in a pointer
• For declaring a pointer we use the character asterisk
(*) before a variable name with the type of the
address location which will be saved in it
• For example: if pNum is a pointer to an integer in
memory then
int *pNum;

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 6


Initializing a Pointer
• A pointer whose value is zero is called a null pointer
int *pNum = 0;
• All pointers when they are created, should be
initialized to something. If you don't know what you
want to assign to the pointer, assign 0
• A pointer that is not initialized is called a “wild
pointer”
• Wild pointers are very dangerous

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 7


int num = 10;
num

10
709 710 711 712 713

int *pNum = &num;


pNum

711
The Indirection
Operator
• The indirection operator (*) is also called the
dereference operator

• When a pointer is dereferenced, the value at the


address stored by the pointer is retrieved
cout<<"Value where pointing:” <<*pNum<<endl;

*pNum = 20;

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 9


The Indirection
Operator
• From this example we can see that the
indirection Operator means

“the value stored at”

• Keep in mind that symbol * is used in two


distinct ways with pointers: declaration and
dereference

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 10


The Indirection
Operator
• When a pointer is declared, the asterisk (*)
indicates that it is a pointer, not a normal variable
int *pNum;

• When the pointer is dereferenced, the indirection


operator indicates the value at the memory
location stored in the pointer
cout<<*pNum;

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 11


Pointers, Addresses, and
Variables

• It is important to distinguish between a


pointer, the address that the pointer holds,
and the value at the address held by the
pointer
• This is the source of much of the confusion
about pointers
• Consider the next example

Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 12


Pointers, Addresses, and
Variables
int theVariable = 5;
int * pPointer = &theVariable;

• TheVariable is declared to be an integer variable


initialized with the value 5
• pPointer is declared to be a pointer to an integer; it is
initialized with the address of theVariable
• The address that pPointer holds is the address of
theVariable
• The value at the address that pPointer holds is 5
Programming Fundamentals- Pointers 13

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