A pointer is a data type whose value refers directly to (or "points to") another value stored elsewhere in the computer memory using its address.
3
votes
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506 views
What is the definition of pointer? [duplicate]
Conceptually a "pointer" is just something that "points" to something else;Is this definition is sufficient to tell exactly what a pointer is in programing languages?
Does it need to have any other ...
2
votes
2answers
535 views
Do pointers really exist in Java? [duplicate]
I read quite a few resources on the internet and now I am quite confused about the existence of pointers in Java.
Some claim that there are pointers and some claim that there is no such concept. So ...
1
vote
3answers
129 views
Garbage collectors and pointers/ reference
I am a little confused on both pointers and reference. From my understanding pointers are addresses in memory. If I pass a variable using pointers and reference to a function, any manipulations of ...
0
votes
1answer
164 views
Is there a proper way to allow access to private list by reference?
I'm trying to provide a by-reference getter to a list of objects in a class. My setup looks something roughly like this:
class c_Container
{
public:
c_Item* Get(int uid);
private:
c_Item ...
5
votes
1answer
181 views
Hardware that accelerates pointer dereferencing?
Most modern languages make a heavy use of pointers / references: a typical OOP language uses VMT lookups, a typical functional language builds key data structures out of pointers, etc. Even typical C ...
6
votes
1answer
569 views
Is this a valid example of a dangling pointer?
The book "Data Structures in C" (Horowitz and Sahni) suggests that in the following code the pointer pf is behaving as a dangling reference:
float f,*pf;
pf=(float*) malloc(sizeof(float));
*pf=2.6;
...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Was C designed to facilitate Object-Oriented programming?
I am trying to broaden my understanding of the history and development of object-oriented programming, and I am curious to find out
if C was designed to facilitate Object-Oriented programming? (like ...
5
votes
5answers
969 views
Is there any difference between pointers and references? [duplicate]
References and pointers do the same thing as I know. Is there any difference between them?
If there is no difference, why we call them reference not pointer?
0
votes
1answer
190 views
Converting 'char*' to 'char'. Am I passing this array correctly? [closed]
So my CS professor gave the whole class a simple assignment. "Write a recursive function that will swap the order of a section in an array of chars." I thought to myself, "Easy. I'll finish this up in ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
C++ why & how are virtual functions slower?
Can anyone explain in detail, how exactly the virtual table works & what pointers are associated when virtual functions are called. If they are actually slower, can you show the time that the ...
3
votes
5answers
731 views
When and why would we use immutable pointers?
In Java, the String object is both immutable and also a pointer (aka reference type). I'm sure there are other types/objects which are both immutable and a pointer as well and that this extends ...
1
vote
2answers
284 views
C++ Typecasting VS performance
Let's say we're designing a video game. We have some sprites on the map and we want to call some method of the particular sprite at some particular position.
We are using one broadly-known C++ ...
3
votes
2answers
301 views
What happens when using address before it's allocated?
The very simple piece of C++ code below is incorrect, it's easy to see why and tools like Valgrind will tell you. In running several C++ codes containing this kind of error, I noticed that each time, ...
5
votes
4answers
581 views
What's a good way to explain the need for pointing to a pointer?
Understanding what a pointer (an address) is, is fairly easy and an eleven-year old can understand it. But how do we express why we have a need for a pointer to a pointer? what is a very pedagogical ...
2
votes
3answers
491 views
C++ Pointers: Number of levels of Indirection
In a C++ program that doesn't contain legacy C code, is there a guideline regarding the maximum number of levels of indirection that should be used in the source code? I know that in C (as opposed to ...
-2
votes
4answers
593 views
C simple arrays and pointers question
So here's the confusion, let's say I declare an array of characters
char name[3] = "Sam";
and then I declare another array but this time using pointers
char * name = "Sam";
What's the ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Functions returning pointers
C++ noob here. I have a very basic question about a construct I found in the C++ book I am reading.
// class declaration
class CStr {
char sData[256];
public:
char* get(void);
};
// ...
5
votes
4answers
722 views
What's so bad about pointers in C++?
To continue the discussion in Why are pointers not recommended when coding with C++
Suppose you have a class that encapsulates objects which need some initialisation to be valid - like a network ...
3
votes
2answers
275 views
Explanation of satellite data from a programmers perspective
I have started reading Part 2 of Introduction to Algorithms and in the section The structure of the data the author/authors says in the context of sorting a sequence of numbers:
In practice, the ...
-5
votes
2answers
330 views
what will be the Output of the following code written in “ C”?
#include<stdio.h>
void main()
{
char ***p="hello";
printf("%c",++*p++);
}
I haven't understand the concept of (*) indirection uses here three times.
When i compiled this program then the ...
2
votes
2answers
300 views
The best way to have a pointer to several methods - critique requested
I'm starting with a short introduction of what I know from the C language:
a pointer is a type that stores an adress or a NULL
the * operator reads the left value of the variable on its right and ...
2
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the point of dynamic allocation in C++?
I really have never understood it at all. I can do it, but I just don't get why I would want to.
For instance, I was programming a game yesterday, and I set up an array of pointers to dynamically ...
2
votes
3answers
583 views
introducing pointers to a large software project
I have a fairly large software project written in c++.
In there, there is a class foo which represents a structure (by which i don't mean the programmers struct) in which foo-objects can be part of a ...
4
votes
6answers
666 views
why are both index[array] and array[index] valid in C?
For example consider:
int index = 3;
int array[4] = {0, 1, 2, 3};
then both index[array] and array[index] are valid expressions, much like *(index + array) and *(array + index).
In C arrays why is ...
1
vote
9answers
2k views
Pointers in C vs No pointers in PHP
Both languages have the same syntax.
Why does C have the weird * character that denotes pointers (which is some kind of memory address of the variable contents?), when PHP doesn't have it and you can ...
40
votes
3answers
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How is a Java reference different from a C pointer?
C has pointers and Java has what is called references. They have some things in common in the sense that they all point to something. I know that pointers in C store the addresses they point to. Do ...
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votes
4answers
274 views
What are good strategies in C for dealing with pointer errors of this type?
In C, I often come across errors with code like this
prio_queue->head[index] = newEntry;
Yields a " "Cannot assign Entry** to Entry* "
How do you prevent/debug errors of this type, in general? ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the difference between a pointer pointing to 0x0 location and a pointer set to NULL?
Is a pointer pointing to 0x0000 the same as a pointer set to NULL? If NULL value is defined in the C language, then what location does it physically translate to? Is it the same as 0x0000. Where can I ...
12
votes
5answers
713 views
How is precedence determined in C pointers?
I've come across two pointer declarations that I'm having trouble understanding. My understanding of precedence rules goes something like this:
Operator Precedence ...
4
votes
6answers
947 views
Is it best to minimize using pointers in C?
I think most people would agree that pointers are a major source of bugs in C programs (if not the greatest source of bugs). Other languages drop pointers entirely for this reason. When working in C, ...
2
votes
5answers
890 views
What is the purpose of arrays in C, when pointers could have done the job?
Arrays and pointers are not the same thing in C, although they are related and can be used similarly. So far we all agree.
However, I don't see why arrays were included in C, when pointers could have ...
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votes
5answers
978 views
Who invented pointers?
Pretty simple question, but something I haven't been able to find out. Who was the first person to describe the idea of a pointer? The abstract concept itself?
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votes
17answers
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What programming problems are best solved by using pointers?
Well, I basically understand how to use pointers, but not how best to use them in order to do better programming.
What are good projects or problems to resolve involving the use of pointers so I can ...
2
votes
3answers
987 views
Do I need to understand pointers to use C++?
Well, I love C++, I have been using it for a while: I like all the libraries (Allegro, SDL, QT, Ogre, etc.), but I have a problem: I don't understand pointers.
Do I really need them ? I just program ...
3
votes
5answers
996 views
function pointers are so complex to me
I found this code sample in this answer by Armen Tsirunyan.
class MyClass
{
public:
typedef void (*funcPtr)(int, int);
MyClass(funcPtr whatToCall)
{
callme = whatToCall;
}
...
13
votes
15answers
2k views
Will real world applications ever need a 128-bit flat address space?
This is a bit "one megabyte should be enough for anyone", but...
A 64-bit flat address space allows up to 4.3ish billion times more space than a 32-bit address space. That's 17,179,869,184 GiB.
...
2
votes
2answers
211 views
Is a small demo a good idea for an interview?
Unfortunately most of my work is internal -- I was toying with the idea of a small web demo to give the company better insight. What do you think?
16
votes
10answers
4k views
What is so difficult about pointers/recursion?
In the perils of java schools Joel discusses his experience at Penn and the difficulty of "segmentation faults". He says
[segfaults are difficult until you]
"take a deep breath and really try ...
3
votes
2answers
605 views
Smart Pointers inside class vs Normal Pointers with Destructor
Regarding pointers which are members of classes. Should they be of a smart pointer type or is it enough to simply deal with them in the destructor of the class they are contained in?
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votes
10answers
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Why are pointers not recommended when coding with C++
I read from somewhere that when using C++ it is recommended not to use pointers. Why is pointers such a bad idea when you are using C++. For C programmers that are used to using pointers, what is the ...
2
votes
5answers
377 views
Pointer ownership tips
In some libraries I've seen, a lot of emphasis is put into change of ownership of pointers, like for example a class method that allocates and returns a pointer to an object while relinquishing its ...
19
votes
4answers
9k views
Any real use of pointers in C#?
What is a situation while coding in C# where using pointers is a good or necessary option? I'm talking about unsafe pointers.
57
votes
33answers
6k views
What's a nice explanation for pointers?
In your own studies (on your own, or for a class) did you have an "ah ha" moment when you finally, really understood pointers? Do you have an explanation you use for beginner programmers that seems ...
5
votes
8answers
3k views
What are use cases and advantages of pointers?
I often struggle to see the advantages of pointers (except for low level programming).
Why use of char* instead of a String or char[] or what advantages pointer arithmetic brings.
So what are the ...
11
votes
9answers
502 views
Did anyone else get a deeper understanding about pointers when learning linked lists? [closed]
I'm a student at the University and I'm taking the Data Structures class. When learning linked lists and doubly linked lists, did you guys feel you learned a deeper understanding of pointers, dynamic ...
11
votes
5answers
996 views
If you favor “T *var”, do you ever write “T*”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
int* i; or int *i; or int * i;
Thinking about where we place our asterisks; how do those that prefer to keep the "pointerness" away from the type and with the identifier ...
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votes
12answers
3k views
int* i; or int *i; or int * i; [closed]
What is your favorite method to declare a pointer?
int* i;
or
int *i;
or
int * i;
or
int*i;
Please explain why.
see also: http://www.stroustrup.com/bs_faq2.html#whitespace
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votes
4answers
324 views
You've shipped, you get a rare seg fault. Pointer checking or let it go?
You've shipped, asserts are turned off, you receive a rare crash report indicating that a null pointer violation occurred in your code. In a development environment, the problem would have been ...
