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:

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

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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!

Quote:

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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.

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regards,
George