MODULE 2
Review of Pointers
Module 4 Topic in
Computer Programming 2
• Learn about the pointer data type and pointer
variables
• Explore how to declare and manipulate pointer
variables
• Learn about the address of operator and the
dereferencing operator
• Learn the application of pointers to data structures
• Implement pointers and data structures in programs.
• Pointer • Dynamic Arrays
• Address Operator • Arrays and Pointers
• Dereferencing Operator • Structures and Pointers
• The new Operator • Classes and Pointers
• The heap
• The delete Operator
• Pointer → is the memory address of a variable
• Pointer variable → content is a memory address
• There is no name associated with the pointer data
type in C++
• Discover dynamic variables
• Explore how to use the new and delete operators
to manipulate dynamic variables
• Syntax:
• Examples:
int *p;
char *ch;
• These statements are equivalent:
int *p;
int* p;
int * p;
• In the statement: int* p, q; only p is the
pointer variable, not q; here q is an int
variable
• To avoid confusion, attach the character * to
the variable name:
int *p, q;
int *p, *q;
• The ampersand, &, is called the address of
operator
• The address of operator is a unary operator that
returns the address of its operand
• The & in front of an ordinary variable produces the
address of that variable; that is, it produces a
pointer that points to the variable. The & operator
is simply called the address-of-operator.
• When used as a unary operator, * is the
dereferencing operator or indirection operator
• Refers to object to which its operand points
• The * operator in front of a pointer variable
produces the variable to which it points. When
used this way, the * operator is called the
dereferencing operator
• Example:
• To print the value of x, using p:
• To store a value in x, using p:
Before: After:
*p1 = 10; p1 = p2;
*p2 = 20;
Before: After:
*p1 = 10; *p1 = *p2;
*p2 = 20;
Sample Program 1
Before: After:
int num = 100; *pointer = 250;
pointer = #
Sample Program 2
Sample Program 2 Illustration
• Since a pointer can be used to refer to a variable, your
program can manipulate variables even if the variables
have no identifiers to name them.
• The new operator creates a new dynamic variable of a
specified type and returns a pointer that points to this new
variable.
• Example:
p1 = new int;
This new, nameless variable can be referred to as *p1 (that
is, as the variable pointed by p1)
Sample Program 3
Sample Program 3 Illustration
• It is a special area of memory that is reserved for
dynamically allocated variables.
• Any new dynamic variable created by a program
consumes some of the memory in the freestore.
• If there was insufficient available memory to create
the new variable, then new returned a special value
named NULL.
• Eliminates a dynamic variable and returns the memory that
the dynamic variable occupied to the freestore manager so
that the memory can be reused.
• When you apply delete to a pointer variable, the dynamic
variable to which it is pointing is destroyed.
• At that point, the value of the pointer variable is undefined,
which means that you do not know where it is pointing.
• If pointer variable pointing to the dynamic variable that was
destroyed and becomes undefined is called dangling
pointers.
Sample Program 4
• You can assign a name definition and then use the
type name to declare variables using typedef
keyword.
• Syntax:
Sample Program 5
Pointers as Call-by-Value
Sample Program 6
Sample Program 6 Illustration
• Is an array whose size is not specified when you write
the program, but is determined while the program is
running.
• Legal:
• Illegal:
Sample Program 7
• Illustration: d contains the address of the indexed
variable d[0]. The expression d + 1 evaluates to the
address of d[1], d + 2 is the address of d[2], , and so
forth.
• Is equivalent to
Sample Program 8
Sample Program 9
Classes & Pointers
Sample Program 10
Classes & Pointers
Sample Program 10
continuation
• Bancila, M.(2017). Modern C++ Programming Cookbook: Recipes to explore
data structure, multithreading, and networking in C++17. Birmingham, UK:
Packt Publishing
• Dr Kung-Hua Chang(2017). Data Structures Practice Problems for C++
Beginners. USA: Simple & Example
• Wittenberg, Lee(2017). Data Structures and Algorithms in C++: Pocket Primer.
New Delhi: Mercury Learning & Information
• Hemant Jain(2017). Problem Solving in Data Structures & Algorithms Using
C++: Programming Interview Guide. USA: CreateSpace Independent
Publishing Platform
• Albert, J.(2016). Programming with Visual C++: Concepts and Projects. USA:
Cengage Learning
