Reference or Pointer

Would someone be able to tell me which of these methods of passing data is this best? Thanks.

Code:

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#include <iostream.h>

const int MAX_TYPES=2, MAX_LEN=10;

void Test(int *, const char [MAX_TYPES][MAX_LEN], const int);

int main(void)
{
  const char TYPE[MAX_TYPES][MAX_LEN]={{"Reference"},{"Pointer"}};
  const int REF=0, POINT=1;
  int Num, *NumPointer=&Num;

  cout << "Enter number: ";
  cin >> Num;

  Test(&Num, TYPE, REF);
  Test(NumPointer, TYPE, POINT);

  return 0;
}

void Test(int *Test, const char Type[MAX_TYPES][MAX_LEN], const int TypeCat)
{
  cout << "\nAddress of test: " << Test << ".\nValue of test: " << *Test
      << " (passing by " << Type[TypeCat] << ").\n";
  cin.get();
}

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Quote:

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C++ programmers strongly prefer references to pointers. References are cleaner and easier to use, and they do a better job of hiding information.

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Quote:

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References cannot be reassigned, however. If you need to point first to one object and then another, you must use a pointer. References cannot be null, so if there is any chance that the object in question may be null, you must not use a reference. You must use a pointer

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this was borrowed from "teach yourself c++ in 21 days"

i hope its clear for u :)

moemen ahmed's post says it all I think. Personally, I used to use references quite a lot but I work with old-C coders and they are scared of certain C++ features including references so I figure that pointers are just fine.

Neither of your examples use the C++ reference syntax. They both pass the address of a variable; therefore pass a pointer. Your function only takes a pointer as a parameter; so it wouldn't be possible to pass a reference anyway.

In regard to which is best it'd probably be the first as the second method involves the creation of an unnecessary variable.

Thanks for your replies. I think it's a matter of choice rather than requirement whether to use one or the other, in most cases.

Quote:

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Originally posted by subdene
Thanks for your replies. I think it's a matter of choice rather than requirement whether to use one or the other, in most cases.

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It's a choice in C++ , in C you do not have a choice you must use pointers.