Pointers or References: Which is Best for Remote Variable Assignment?

Best Practice for Remotely Assigning Variables: Pointers vs. References

When passing variables to functions for remote assignment, there are two options: pointers and references. Both serve different purposes, but which is the better choice?

Pointers vs. References: A Closer Look

Pointers:

• Stores the address of the variable.
• Enables pointer arithmetic (e.g., incrementing address to access elements in an array).
• Can handle NULL-pointers.

References:

• Provides a direct reference to the variable itself.
• Type-safe and easier to use, reducing the risk of errors.
• Does not support pointer arithmetic.

When to Use Pointers:

Use pointers if your function requires:

• Pointer arithmetic.
• The ability to pass NULL-pointers.

When to Use References:

Use references in most other cases:

• Easier and safer to work with.
• Remotely assigns to the original variable.
• Does not require pointer arithmetic or NULL-pointers.

In the example provided:

unsigned long x = 4;

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

Using a reference here is better practice because it provides a direct reference to the original variable x, modifying it directly.

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

While a pointer could also achieve this, it is more verbose and prone to errors. The rule of thumb is to use pointers for pointer arithmetic or passing NULL-pointers; otherwise, references are the preferred choice.

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