Reference Variable and Difference between Reference variable and Pointer

Reference Variable:

A reference variable provides an alias (alternative name) for a previously defined variable.

Syntax:

Data type & reference_name = variable_name;

Ex:

int  a=10;

int &b=a;

Comparative study of pointer & reference variable:

        i.            A pointer can be reassigned any number of time, while a reference variable cannot be reassigned after initialization.

      ii.            A pointer can point to NULL but reference variable always point to a value.

    iii.            We cannot take the address of reference variable like we can do with pointer variable.

Note: Some other properties of C++

·        Declaration of variable:

The C++ allows the declaration of variable anywhere in the program.

·        Dynamic initialization of variable:

Variable can be initialized at runtime using expression at the place of declaration.

Ex:

int  sum;

int a=sum;