Learning about Pointers
Pointers can be the cause of frustration while learning to code C++. However, the concept is simple.
Important note
A pointer is a variable that holds a memory address.
That's it! There's nothing to be concerned about. What probably causes the frustration to beginners is the syntax—the code we use to handle pointers. We will step through each part of the code for using pointers. You can then begin the ongoing process of mastering them.
Tip
In this section, we will actually learn more about pointers than we need to for this project. In the next project, we will make greater use of pointers. Despite this, we will only scratch the surface of this topic. Further study is definitely recommended, and we will talk more about that in the final chapter.
Rarely do I suggest that memorizing facts, figures, or syntax is the best way to learn. However, memorizing the brief but crucial syntax related to pointers might be worthwhile. This...