Thread: pointers

ok...so far I know what pointers do and how they are done:

Code:

// I'm not not sure if I have put the splats (*'s) in the right places, so correct me if i'm wrong...
int thing;
int* pointer; // declare "pointer" a pointer
pointer = *thing; // make it point to "thing"
pointer* = 10; // store 10 in what it points to

If I have written the code correctly, it should work. What i'd like to know is why pointers are needed when it is just as easy it do the following:

Code:

int thing = 10;

Thanks
-Chris

Code:

int thing;
int* pointer; // declare "pointer" a pointer
pointer = *thing; // make it point to "thing"
pointer* = 10; // store 10 in what it points to

that's wrong, here's how it should be

Code:

int thing;
int *pointer; //declare a pointer. 
pointer = &thing;  //a pointer points to an address, not a value.
*pointer = 10;  //assigns 10 to thing

where the * is really doesn't matter, but i put it in the places that are most common. the msot common place is easier to figure out than something wierd.

Such simple applications are rarely the application for which pointers are used.

Things like dynamic libraries, message maps(I think), and dynamic memory allocation would be impossible if it weren't for pointers.