Related to Pointers

I have three questions, both related to pointers. (or so i think)...

First is ->. I see this writen alot. For example.

Code:

---

m_Console->SetPosition(Position);

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If somebody could explain to me what is going on here, for some reason, nowhere is giving a solid definition, or I'm just not looking hard enough(which is possibly the case).

Second is 'this' in an expression such as:

Code:

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return * this;

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I understand I didn't give much code, but i do believe it is sufficient to answer the question of, what exactually could be going on here? I understand that 'this' is directly related to classes in some way.

Finally, what exactually is the keyword 'operator'. I'm not quite understanding what it does. Example:

Code:

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Vector operator + (Vector & OtherVector);

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This code being inside a class. Could somebody please explain to me what exactually could be going on here.

Thank you very much for your help.

your first portion of code, -> is a reference of a pointer...in that case, m_Console would be the pointer...if you point to a structure, class, union etc, you can access the different functions and variables of them by using ->.....so in that case, that is a pointer to a class that has a function called SetPosition, and it is calling it, and it takes 1 parameter

the 2nd piece of code simple returns a pointer variable called this (i think ?)

3rd line of code, your guess is as good as mine

>the 2nd piece of code simple returns a pointer variable called this (i think ?)

inncorrect,
'this' is a pointer used inside a class to make reference to that particular instance of the class. for example,

Code:

---


class thing {
// stuff goes here
  int var

  int func(thing param) {
    return this->var + param.var;
  }
};
// this->var refers to the var variable of the object making the function call

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when you 'return *this' you are returning that class object. 'this' is a pointer so 'return * this' will dereference the pointer and return the actual object.

>Finally, what exactually is the keyword 'operator'. I'm not quite understanding what it does. Example:

'operator' is a keyword used when overiding operators. in your example, the class is defining what to do when you try to add 2 vectors using '+'

ie)
vector + anotherVector

i think i got that all right, someone correct me if im wrong. (ive been programming java for the last 3 hours, such things can corrupt my delicate c++ lovin mind... lol, j/k)

you can use *this inside a class, like they said, to access the class inside.

Very useful for overloads

learn somethin new every day ;) thx for correcting me