CO2402 Advanced Programming with C++ Lecture 20 Notes
11 views 0 purchase
Course
Advanced Programming with C++ (CO2402)
Institution
University Of Central Lancashire Preston (UClan)
This document contains detailed notes from Lecture 20 of the CO2402 course on Advanced Programming with C++. The lecture explores the concepts of references and pointers, two fundamental features in C++ that provide flexible memory management and efficient function parameter passing. The notes expl...
University of Central Lancashire Preston (UClan)
Unknown
Advanced Programming with C++ (CO2402)
All documents for this subject (19)
Seller
Follow
BpoBpo
Reviews received
Content preview
CO2402: Advanced Programming
with C++ Lecture 20
References and Pointers
1. Overview
o C++ supports both references and pointers, allowing for
flexible memory management and function parameter
passing.
o Reference: An alias for another variable, which cannot be
null, must be initialized, and cannot be reassigned.
o Pointer: Stores the address of a variable, which can point to
different objects or be null during its lifetime.
2. Advantages of References
o Safer than pointers as they must always refer to a valid
object.
o No need for dereferencing operators to access the value,
making the code cleaner.
Example:
, 3. When to Use Pointers
o Pointers are necessary when dealing with dynamic memory
allocation, arrays, and situations where the object being
pointed to may change during runtime.
Example:
Polymorphism with References (from C++11)
1. Polymorphism with Virtual Functions
o Polymorphism allows calling the correct function version based
on the object's type at runtime, even when accessed through
a base class reference.
Example:
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller BpoBpo. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.86. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.