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References vs Pointers

References are aliases that can't be null and can't be reseated. When to reach for a reference, when you still need a pointer, and why const& is the default way to pass objects.

20 min read

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5 interview questions on this topic

Each one opens a full worked answer.

What's the difference between a reference and a pointer?Does assigning to a reference change what it refers to?How should you pass a large object to a function, and why?When should you use a pointer instead of a reference?Is it safe to return a reference from a function?

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References vs Pointers | EmbeddedPrep.io