Programming Example
Reference operator (&) and Dereference operator (*)
Reference operator (&) and Dereference operator (*)
#include <stdio.h>
int main () {
int var = 20; /* actual variable declaration */
int *ip; /* pointer variable declaration */
ip = &var; /* store address of var in pointer variable*/
printf("Address of var variable: %x\n", &var );
/* address stored in pointer variable */
printf("Address stored in ip variable: %x\n", ip );
/* access the value using the pointer */
printf("Value of *ip variable: %d\n", *ip );
return 0;
} Address of var variable: bffd8b3c
Address stored in ip variable: bffd8b3c
Value of *ip variable: 20
& is called reference operator. It gives you the address of a variable.
Likewise, there is another operator that gets you the value from the address, it is called a dereference operator (*).
Below example clearly demonstrates the use of pointers, reference operator and dereference operator.
Note: The * sign when declaring a pointer is not a dereference operator. It is just a similar notation that creates a pointer.
First read the algorithm, then study the program code line by line. After that, compare the code with the output and finally go through the explanation. This approach helps learners understand both the logic and the implementation properly.
After understanding this example, try to rewrite the same program without looking at the code. Then change some values or logic and run it again. This helps improve confidence and keeps learners engaged on the page for longer.