Why c++ introduced reference variable?

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Manoj Kumar Vishwakarma

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C++ references allow you to create a second name for the a variable that you can use to read or modify the original data stored in that variable.
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(A)It makes the syntax more clear and increase the readability of program. E.g: void change(int* a, int* b) (a) // in case of pointer void change (int& a, int& b ) (b) // in case of reference Int main() { int i = 0, int j = 0; change (&i, &j); // in case of pointer change (I, j); //...
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(A)It makes the syntax more clear and increase the readability of program. E.g: void change(int* a, int* b) (a) // in case of pointer void change (int& a, int& b ) (b) // in case of reference Int main() { int i = 0, int j = 0; change (&i, &j); // in case of pointer change (I, j); // in case of reference : you can see the difference, it is just like a simple function call } (B) When we use reference, copy can be avoidable which saves the memory. Main difference between pointer and reference are as follows: 1- Pointer can be NULL but reference cannot be. 2- Pointer can hold the address of variables while reference holds the address of duplicate of that variable. 3- Reference must be initializing at the time of declaration but this not the case with pointer. 4- There is no need to dereference the reference but a pointer to be dereferenced. 5- Arithmetic operation cannot be perform on reference whereas can do with pointers. read less
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Expert C/C++ Trainer with over 15 years of Experience

References are alternative of pointers. It is simpler to use references over pointers. Internally references are similar to pointers. Eg: Indirect access using pointers. int x =10; int *ptr = &x; //modify value of x indirectly *ptr = 20; //increment by 1 *ptr++ is wrong (*ptr)++ is correct. Reference int...
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References are alternative of pointers. It is simpler to use references over pointers. Internally references are similar to pointers. Eg: Indirect access using pointers. int x =10; int *ptr = &x; //modify value of x indirectly *ptr = 20; //increment by 1 *ptr++ is wrong (*ptr)++ is correct. Reference int &ref=x; ref=20; ref++; Late binding and Run-time polymorphism can be achieved by reference and pointer. I hope u got the basic point. Regard Syed read less
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First we need to understand the difference between the pointers (used in C) and reference variables( used in C++). 1. Pointer is a variable which holds the address of some other variable. 1. In C, pointers were introduced to manipulate the data stored at a particular memory location. 2. It was...
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First we need to understand the difference between the pointers (used in C) and reference variables( used in C++). 1. Pointer is a variable which holds the address of some other variable. 1. In C, pointers were introduced to manipulate the data stored at a particular memory location. 2. It was easier to access, store and manipulate the data using pointers e.g. 2d or 3d matrices, or accessing data using pointers in functions, accessing data stored in structures. 3. But pointer could create lot of bugs accidentally (typing mistake like using *(p+1) instead of *(*p+1) or deliberately (to create viruses etc). In C++ and Java, pointers were totally removed to avoid above mentioned issues (bugs, viruses and complexity). 1. Reference variable is another name (alias) given to the same memory location. 2. They work similar to pointers but are easy to use and less complicated. 3. They must be initialized at the time of declaration, unlike pointers in C. (undeclared pointers in C can point anywhere in the memory). 4. In C++ functions, no address operator(&) is used at the time of function call, unlike pointers where (&) operator is used at the time of function call. 5. As 80% of C syntax can be used in C++, pointers can be used in C++ programs also. read less
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C++ references allow you to create a second name for the a variable that you can use to read or modify the original data stored in that variable. While this may not sound appealing at first, what this means is that when you declare a reference and assign it a variable, it will allow you to treat the...
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C++ references allow you to create a second name for the a variable that you can use to read or modify the original data stored in that variable. While this may not sound appealing at first, what this means is that when you declare a reference and assign it a variable, it will allow you to treat the reference exactly as though it were the original variable for the purpose of accessing and modifying the value of the original variable--even if the second name (the reference) is located within a different scope. This means, for instance, that if you make your function arguments references, and you will effectively have a way to change the original data passed into the function. This is quite different from how C++ normally works, where you have arguments to a function copied into new variables. It also allows you to dramatically reduce the amount of copying that takes place behind the scenes, both with functions and in other areas of C++, like catch clauses. read less
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Phd Scholar at IIT Delhi M.tech from IIT Delhi B.tech from YMCA University of science and technology

To support operator overloading
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Industry Experienced Computer Teacher & Software Professional

To ease developer Life. It makes program easily readable.
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Because of simplifying the notation as well as to adhere on one location
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C,C++17,Data Structure, Algorithm, STL,Multithreading,Async, Assignments - Online tutor

using reference, copy can be avoidable which saves the memory.
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C,C++17,Data Structure, Algorithm, STL,Multithreading,Async, Assignments - Online tutor

While you are passing a big object to a function, it creates a new copy of the same object. So instead of creating a new copy we are just referring the same object. here you will get the benift of using reference.
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