How does pointer dereferencing work?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an explanation of the concept of pointer dereferencing, which involves accessing the value that a pointer points to in programming. This typically relates to languages like C or C++, where pointers are used to manage memory addresses and data references.
Answer
Dereferencing a pointer means accessing the value stored at the memory address it points to, using *.
Dereferencing a pointer means accessing the value stored at the memory address that the pointer refers to, using the dereference operator (*).
Answer for screen readers
Dereferencing a pointer means accessing the value stored at the memory address that the pointer refers to, using the dereference operator (*).
More Information
When you dereference a pointer, you are able to manipulate the data itself, rather than just working with the memory address.
Tips
A common mistake is attempting to dereference a null or uninitialized pointer, which can lead to undefined behavior or crashes.
Sources
- Dereference Operator - Lenovo - lenovo.com
- Dereference Pointer in C - GeeksforGeeks - geeksforgeeks.org
- C++ Dereferencing Explained - Udacity - udacity.com
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