What is a reference variable

What is a reference variable?

A reference is defined as an alias for another variable. In short, it is like giving a different name to a pre-existing variable. Once a reference is initialized to the variable, we can use either the reference name or the variable to refer to that variable.

Creating references in C++

The basic syntax to create a reference is –

Data type& new variable = previous variable

The newly created variable will now refer to the previous variable.

For example –

int i = 17 // The variable i is declared as 17

Creating the reference of i will be as –

int& x = i // Here x will be called as the integer variable initialised to r

C++ code

  #include      using namespace std;     int main () {     int    i; // Declare variable I as int     double d; // Declare variable d as double type        // declare reference variables for I and d     int&    r = i;// r is reference to i     double& s = d;// s is reference to d           i = 5;     cout << “Value of i : ” << i << endl;     cout << “Value of i reference : ” << r  << endl;        d = 11.7;     cout << “Value of d : ” << d << endl;     cout << “Value of d reference : ” << s  << endl;          return 0;  }  

Output

What is a reference variable

Difference between Reference and Pointers

References	Pointers
We cannot have a NULL reference.	The concept of NULL pointers is allowed.
A reference assigned to a particular object cant be changed.	Pointers, on the other hand, can point to different objects at any time.
A reference is also initialized at the time of its creation.	Pointers can be initialized at any time.

Next TopicFriend Function in C++

What is a reference variable

What is a reference variable?

Creating references in C++

C++ code

Difference between Reference and Pointers

Program to convert infix to postfix expression in C++ using the Stack Data Structure

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