Pointers vs. References: When Should You Use Which for Remote Variable Modification?

Pointers vs. References: Optimal Practice for Remote Variable Assignment

When assigning a variable to a function for remote modification, the choice between a pointer and a reference arises. This article delves into the pros and cons of each approach, guiding you towards the best practice.

Pointer vs. Reference

Reference Passing:
In reference passing, a variable's address is directly passed to the function, allowing the function to directly access and modify the original variable.

Example:

unsigned long x = 4;

void func1(unsigned long& val) {
     val = 5;            
}
func1(x);

Pointer Passing:
In pointer passing, a pointer to the variable's address is passed to the function, providing indirect access to the original variable.

Example:

void func2(unsigned long* val) {
     *val = 5;
}
func2(&x);

Choosing Between Pointers and References:

Ultimately, the decision depends on the specific use case:

• Pointer Arithmetic: Use pointers if the function requires pointer arithmetic, such as incrementing the pointer address for array traversal.
• NULL Pointers: Use pointers if the function may handle NULL pointers.

• General Use: For all other scenarios, consider using references for the following reasons:

  • Simplicity: References provide a more straightforward and encapsulated way of accessing the original variable.
  • Avoidance of Null Dereferencing: References guarantee that the variable will always be valid, reducing the risk of null dereferencing errors.
  • Memory Overhead: References have a smaller memory overhead compared to pointers.

Rule of Thumb:

As a rule of thumb, use pointers when necessary for pointer arithmetic or handling NULL pointers, and use references for all other cases.

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