What is the benefit of using a pointer C++ [duplicate]

Question

I Was just confused on the part of using a pointer on C++.. well you might say, "a pointer is obviously a memory adress of another variable and there are certaintly conditions in your program where you will need them". But i dont mean pointer in general, i mean the pointer you use to like "simulate" a class... I think code will explain it more:

#include <iostream> #include <string> #include "Book.h" int main() { Book book1; Book *bookPointer = &book1; book1.setBooksId(123); std::cout << "BOOK ID: " << book1.getBookId() << std::endl; (*bookPointer).setBooksId(300); std::cout << (*bookPointer).getBookId() << std::endl; /*When usage of arrow member selection member, left is always a pointer. Same thing as above, but better practice! */ bookPointer->setBooksId(100); std::cout << "POINTER ARROW : " << bookPointer->getBookId() << std::endl; return 0; }

Here you see i have another pointer that is called bookPointer which all it does is the same as the original instance of book class book1... I dont get it.. What is the advantage of using this? Give me a scenario if you can! Thanks for Helping!!

There is indeed no benefit in the use you have in your example code. But look at the accepted answer to the question linked to by Phil. The answer lists the scenarios where pointers (or references) actually must be used. — Peter - Reinstate Monica
– Peter - Reinstate Monica, Commented Apr 21, 2016 at 19:33

doug65536 · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-21 19:27:20Z

1

There is no "simulation" happening at all. book1 has an address too, and the this pointer is set to the address of book1 when you do book1.setBooksId(123);. There is no difference.

answered Apr 21, 2016 at 19:27

doug65536

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11 Comments

amanuel2 Over a year ago

There is a diffrence according to this: stackoverflow.com/questions/22146094/…

doug65536 Over a year ago

@AmanuelBogale Yeah? Where?

amanuel2 Over a year ago

The Anwsers i think.. The First Anwser? I Cant see his position on this topic

doug65536 Over a year ago

@AmanuelBogale The this pointer is just a hidden parameter in the call to the method. Whether the pointer is read from a pointer variable (foo->bar()), or inferred by taking the address of a variable (foo.bar()), at the end of the day, it passes a pointer to the method.

doug65536 Over a year ago

@AmanuelBogale If you are being that vague, why not say it is on the internet?

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