Reference vs pointer in C++ - Hands-On Comparison

Understanding Reference vs Pointer in C++

📖 Scenario: Imagine you have a box with a number inside. You want to create two ways to access and change this number: one using a reference (like a nickname for the box) and one using a pointer (like a map showing where the box is).

🎯 Goal: Learn how to create and use a reference and a pointer to the same integer variable, and see how changing the value through each affects the original variable.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an integer variable named number with the value 10.

Create a reference to number named refNumber.

Create a pointer to number named ptrNumber.

Change the value of number using refNumber and ptrNumber.

Print the value of number after each change.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

References and pointers are used in C++ programs to efficiently access and modify data without copying it, such as in managing large data structures or hardware resources.

💼 Career

Understanding references and pointers is essential for C++ developers working in systems programming, game development, and performance-critical applications.

1

Create the integer variable number

Create an integer variable called number and set it to 10.

C++

# Create an integer variable called number and set it to 10
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use int number = 10; to create the variable.

2

Create a reference and a pointer to number

Create a reference to number named refNumber and a pointer to number named ptrNumber.

C++

int number = 10;
// Create a reference refNumber to number
// Create a pointer ptrNumber to number
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use int& refNumber = number; for the reference and int* ptrNumber = &number; for the pointer.

3

Change number using the reference and pointer

Change the value of number to 20 using refNumber. Then change the value of number to 30 using ptrNumber.

C++

int number = 10;
int& refNumber = number;
int* ptrNumber = &number;
// Change number to 20 using refNumber
// Change number to 30 using ptrNumber
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Assign 20 to refNumber and 30 to *ptrNumber.

4

Print the value of number after changes

Print the value of number after changing it with refNumber and after changing it with ptrNumber. Use std::cout and print each value on a new line.

C++

int number = 10;
int& refNumber = number;
int* ptrNumber = &number;
refNumber = 20;
*ptrNumber = 30;
// Print number after changing with refNumber
// Print number after changing with ptrNumber
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use std::cout << number << std::endl; to print the value.