Pointers vs. References in C : When to Use Which?

Passing by Pointer vs. Passing by Reference in C

In C , passing function arguments by pointers has sparked debates against passing by reference. While both methods achieve similar objectives, they offer distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Passing by Pointer

• Caller must manually retrieve the variable's address, making it less transparent.
• Null values (0) signify non-existence, enabling optional argument implementation.

Passing by Reference

• Caller directly passes the object, offering greater transparency.
• Absence of null values eliminates the need for the called function to perform validity checks.
• References accept temporaries, facilitating function calls like f(T(a, b, c)).
• References reduce the likelihood of bugs due to their simplified syntax compared to pointers.

While pass-by-reference provides a more transparent and user-friendly approach, pass-by-pointer can facilitate optional argument implementation and signal non-existence through null values. Ultimately, the choice between these techniques depends on the specific requirements of the application.

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