Passing by address vs pointer 2

[Warrioruw]

Hi all,

I am a bit of confused with parameter passing. What is the difference bettwen passing by address and by pointer? For example, you have a function:

void Addition(int& a, int& b)

vs

void Addition(int* a, int* b)


Thanks.

 

[PerFnurt]

>void Addition(int& a, int& b)

Addition can only modify the contents of a and b, it cannot destroy them.

>void Addition(int* a, int* b)
Addition can destroy the parameters by a simple

delete a;
delete b;

The caller is giving Addition the full power to do what it want with the parameters.

If Addition is not supposed to destroy them (and the name Addition suggest its not) there is no need in even make it possible.

/Per
[sub]
"It was a work of art, flawless, sublime. A triumph equaled only by its monumental failure."[/sub]

 

[uolj]

Also, the first one, passing by reference, ensures that a value is actually passed in. The second one, passing by pointer, allows the user to pass in a null pointer.

So if you Addition is not supposed to destroy the parameters and it does not expect a null pointer, then there is no need to pass by pointer.