Cheat Engine

[WafflesFTW]

What are the advantages of using references? It seems pointers can carry out the same functions and more.

[oib111]

Well, there are times to use references and there are time to use pointers. Take the following line of code using pointers.

[WafflesFTW]

How exactly is it more efficient? I understand how both work, but everything that can be used through references can be used by pointers as well. It seems that references have no extra benefits whereas pointers can do more.

[oib111]

Functions can only return one value right. Well to overcome that you can use use references or pointers. But the thing is, is you are either pass by reference using a pointer, or you pass by reference using a reference. You also have to dereference the pointers within swap, which makes it error-prone. For example, if you don't dereference the pointer, the compiler will still let you assign an integer to the pointer, but you will get an addressing error. It's also harder to read. And finally, when using pointers, the way swap works is very apparent to the users.

[WafflesFTW]

So the difference is basically cosmetic?

[Robotex]

Use references whenever possible.
Pointers are usefull when they may be NULL, or you need to change them later

In assembly, the pointers are copied to the stack, so any modification won't affect the original pointer, while references puts the pointers directly to the stack