Learning about pointers
Pointers can be the cause of frustration while learning to code C++. However, the concept is simple.
A pointer is a variable that holds a memory address.
That’s it! There’s nothing to be concerned about. What probably causes frustration for beginners is the syntax—the code we use to handle pointers. We will step through each part of the code for using pointers. You can then begin the ongoing process of mastering them. Later, in the final project, we will learn about smart pointers, which in some ways simplify what we are about to learn but are less flexible.
In this section, we will actually learn more about pointers than we need to for this project. In the next project, we will make greater use of pointers. Despite this, we will only scratch the surface of this topic.
Rarely do I suggest that memorizing facts, figures, or syntax is the best way to learn. However, memorizing the brief but crucial...
