Thread: change the target of a reference

Hello everyone,


I am shamed to ask this question because I can not figure out after some experiment. I think for reference variable, once it is binded, the target can not be changed.

But why in my following sample, pi can be binded to a and later binded to b without any issues?

Code:

int main()
{
	int a = 10;
	int b = 20;
	int& pi = a;
	pi = b;
	
	return 0;
}

thanks in advance,
George

References can only be bound when they are initialised (which, in turn, is only possible when the reference is created).

The assignment "pi = b" in your code does not bind the reference pi to b. It sets the value referenced by pi to the value of b (ie it sets a to the value of 20).

If you want a rebindable reference, use a pointer. Assignment to a pointer (as long as you don't do any operations that dereference the pointer) changes what the pointer points at.

Cool, grumpy!

Originally Posted by grumpy

References can only be bound when they are initialised (which, in turn, is only possible when the reference is created).

The assignment "pi = b" in your code does not bind the reference pi to b. It sets the value referenced by pi to the value of b (ie it sets a to the value of 20).

If you want a rebindable reference, use a pointer. Assignment to a pointer (as long as you don't do any operations that dereference the pointer) changes what the pointer points at.

regards,
George