What does -> mean?

My book (The complete Idiots Guide to C++) never used it or explained it.
eg: g_glRender->Init();

TIA

It's syntax sugar for (*g_glRender).Init(). You can also define an operator->().

-> is the pointer operator.

Kuphryn

its a pointer operator to a variable or function in a class
eg.

Code:

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class person
{
  public:
    int number;
};
int main()
{
  person loser;
  person *ptrLoser;
  ptrLoser=&loser;
  ptrLoser->number=10;
  return 0;
}

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Cool Thanks Everyone

You use it when dereferencing an object pointer:

Code:

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#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class person
{
public:
int age;
};

void grow (person* guy);

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{

person ryan;
/* makes my age 17 */
ryan.age = 17;

cout<<"Ryan was, "<<ryan.age<<" years old."<<endl;

/* sends the address of me off to grow */
grow(&ryan);

cout<<"Ryan was, "<<ryan.age<<" years old."<<endl;

  return 0;
}

void grow(person* guy)
{
guy->age = 18;
/* note that (*guy).age = 18; would work here. */
}

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the reason you can't just do:

Code:

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*guy.age = 18;

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is because the period is evaluated before the *. So you'd have to use parentheses to alter the order of operations. Alas making you use the:

Code:

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(*guy).age = 18;

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Although that is rather ugly, and not the easiest thing to work with, so c++ has the -> operator. which is the exact same thing.

Code:

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(*guy).age = 18; == guy->age = 18;

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" -> " is also knows as the, "member selection operator" FYI

useless trivia :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jimboob

What does -> mean?

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Over there.