STUPID NEWBIE question...

Okay, the problem here is stupidity... But that is not somthing that can be fixed :/

So anyways, I'm learning classes... Everything is going just fine and then I get to the section on the this pointer. I think I understand what the this pointer does... But some of the other code I don't understand.

Code:

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softball& softball::topbat(softball& player)
{
    if(player.ave > ave)
        return player;
    else
        return *this
}

---

I don't understand the line with '&' in it... I thought '&' was used for memory addresses...

Help me out please.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Unregistered

Code:

---

softball& softball::topbat(softball& player)
{
    if(player.ave > ave)
        return player;
    else
        return *this
}

---

---

softball & // the return type
this means you are returning a softball by reference which basically IS a pointer but it doesn't look that way syntax-wise.

softball & player // the parameter list
you are passing in a softball but it doesn't make a copy. It's the pointer but again, doesn't look that way syntax-wise.

return *this;
you're dereferencing the this pointer. Again, you're actually passing back "this" object by reference.

by reference is essentically a dereferenced pointer. you can use the dot operator conveniently