Pointers

A pointer is a variable whose value is the address of another variable. Like any variable or constant, you
must declare a pointer before you can work with it. The & operator gives us the address of a variable
and * gives us the value of a variable at a specified address. For example:

// more pointers
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main ()
{
int firstvalue = 5, secondvalue = 15;
int *p1 = NULL;
int *p2 = NULL;

p1 = &firstvalue; // p1 = address of firstvalue

p2 = &secondvalue; // p2 = address of secondvalue

*p1 = 10; // value pointed to by p1 = 10

*p2 = *p1; // value pointed to by p2 = value pointed to by p1

p1 = p2; // p1 = p2 (value of pointer is copied)

*p1 = 20; // value pointed to by p1 = 20

cout << "firstvalue is " << firstvalue << '\n';

cout << "secondvalue is " << secondvalue << '\n';
return 0;
}
// http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/

https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/11560/Pointers-Usage-in-C-Beginners-to-Advanced
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/ 1
Pointers
pointer diagram

variable or pointer address

value of variable or pointer

1st step

program declarations
int firstvalue = 5, secondvalue = 15;
int *p1, *p2

explanation:
1. firstvalue = 5
2. secondvalue = 15
3. *p1 = null
4. *p2 = null

variables

&firstvalue = &secondvalue =
firstvalue secondvalue
008FFA90 008FFA84
5 15

pointers

p1 &p1 = 008FFA78 p2 &p2 = 008FFA6C

0 0

https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/11560/Pointers-Usage-in-C-Beginners-to-Advanced
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/ 2
Pointers
2nd step

program statements
p1 = &firstvalue
p2 = &secondvalue

explanation:
1. p1 value equals firstvalue address (008FFA90)
2. p2 value equals secondvalue address (008FFA84)

variables

&firstvalue = &secondvalue =
firstvalue secondvalue
008FFA90 008FFA84
5 15

pointers

p1 &p1 = 008FFA78 p2 &p2 = 008FFA6C

008FFA90 008FFA84

firstvalue = 5
&firstvalue = 008FFA90

secondvalue = 15
&secondvalue = 008FFA84

p1 = 008FFA90 (p1 = &firstvalue)

after above statements: *p1 = 5 (the value pointed to by p1 = 5)
&p1 = 008FFA78 (address of an address value)
&*p1 = 008FFA90

p2 = 008FFA84 (p2 = &secondvalue)

*p2 = 15 (the value pointed to by p2 = 15)
&p2 = 008FFA6C (address of an address value)
&*p2 = 008FFA84

https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/11560/Pointers-Usage-in-C-Beginners-to-Advanced
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/ 3
Pointers
3rd step

program statements
*p1 = 10
*p2 = *p1

explanation:
1. the value pointed to by p1 = 10;
p1 = &firstvalue = 008FFA90;
change value at 008FFA90 to 10
2. the value pointed to by p2 = the valued pointed to by p1 = 10;
p2 = 008FFA84
change value at 008FFA84 to 10

variables

&firstvalue = &secondvalue =
firstvalue secondvalue
008FFA90 008FFA84
10 10

pointers

p1 &p1 = 008FFA78 p2 &p2 = 008FFA6C

008FFA90 008FFA84

firstvalue = 10
&firstvalue = 008FFA90

secondvalue = 10
&secondvalue = 008FFA84

p1 = 008FFA90 (p1 = &firstvalue)

after above statements: *p1 = 10 (the value pointed to by p1 = 10)
&p1 = 008FFA78 (address of an address value)
&*p1 = 008FFA90

p2 = 008FFA84 (p2 = &secondvalue)

*p2 = 10 (the value pointed to by p2 = 10)
&p2 = 008FFA6C (address of an address value)
&*p2 = 008FFA84

https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/11560/Pointers-Usage-in-C-Beginners-to-Advanced
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/ 4
Pointers
4th step

program statements
p1 = p2

explanation:
1. value of p1 = value of p2 (both p1 and p2 are address values)
2. p1 = p2 = 008FFA84 = &secondvalue
3. now, p1 will not point to &firstvalue

variables

&firstvalue = &secondvalue =
firstvalue secondvalue
008FFA90 008FFA84
10 10

pointers

p1 &p1 = 008FFA78 p2 &p2 = 008FFA6C

008FFA84 008FFA84

firstvalue = 10
&firstvalue = 008FFA90

secondvalue = 10
&secondvalue = 008FFA84

p1 = 008FFA84 (p1 = &secondvalue)

after above statements: *p1 = 10 (the value pointed to by p1 = 10)
&p1 = 008FFA78 (address of an address value)
&*p1 = 008FFA84

p2 = 008FFA84 (p2 = &secondvalue)

*p2 = 10 (the value pointed to by p2 = 10)
&p2 = 008FFA6C (address of an address value)
&*p2 = 008FFA84

https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/11560/Pointers-Usage-in-C-Beginners-to-Advanced
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/ 5
Pointers
5th step

program statements
*p1 = 20

explanation:
1. the value pointed to by p1 = 20;
2. p1 = &seccondvalue = 008FFA84;
3. change variable value at 008FFA84 to 20;

variables

&firstvalue = &secondvalue =
firstvalue secondvalue
008FFA90 008FFA84
10 20

pointers

p1 &p1 = 008FFA78 p2 &p2 = 008FFA6C

008FFA84 008FFA84

firstvalue = 10
&firstvalue = 008FFA90

secondvalue = 20
&secondvalue = 008FFA84

p1 = 008FFA84 (p1 = &secondvalue)

after above statements: *p1 = 20 (the value pointed to by p1 = 20)
&p1 = 008FFA78 (address of an address value)
&*p1 = 008FFA84

p2 = 008FFA84 (p2 = &secondvalue)

*p2 = 20 (the value pointed to by p2 = 20)
&p2 = 008FFA6C (address of an address value)
&*p2 = 008FFA84

https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/11560/Pointers-Usage-in-C-Beginners-to-Advanced
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/ 6