[hseldon]

Which do you think is best? or cons/pros of each of passing by pointer vs passing by reference.

[lionaneesh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hseldon

Which do you think is best? or cons/pros of each of passing by pointer vs passing by reference.

Passing arguments by pointers allows the function to change our data in the pointed address..

Passing by reference allows us to safeguard our data...

Now lets test it :-

function.c

#include<stdio.h>

void passByPointer(int * input)
{
    *input = 100;
}
void passByReference(int input)
{
    input = 1337;
}

int main()
{
    int NumberToTest = 1337;
    printf("Input = %d\n",NumberToTest);
    passByPointer(&NumberToTest);      // change to 100
    printf("Input = %d\n",NumberToTest); // should turn to 100
    passByReference(NumberToTest);    
    printf("Input = %d\n",NumberToTest); // Should be unchanged still will be 100
    return(0);
}

Compiling

gcc function.c -o function

Running :-

aneesh@aneesh-laptop:~/Programming/C$ ./function 
Input = 1337
Input = 100
Input = 100

Hope this helps...

[shabbir]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lionaneesh

Passing arguments by pointers allows the function to change our data in the pointed address..

Passing by reference allows us to safeguard our data...

Now lets test it :-

function.c

#include<stdio.h>

void passByPointer(int * input)
{
    *input = 100;
}
void passByReference(int input)
{
    input = 1337;
}

int main()
{
    int NumberToTest = 1337;
    printf("Input = %d\n",NumberToTest);
    passByPointer(&NumberToTest);      // change to 100
    printf("Input = %d\n",NumberToTest); // should turn to 100
    passByReference(NumberToTest);    
    printf("Input = %d\n",NumberToTest); // Should be unchanged still will be 100
    return(0);
}

Compiling

gcc function.c -o function

Running :-

aneesh@aneesh-laptop:~/Programming/C$ ./function 
Input = 1337
Input = 100
Input = 100

Hope this helps...

You are getting confused with Pass By reference with Pass By Value.

[xpi0t0s]

Neither is better; they are different tools for different jobs. You may as well ask which is better out of a hammer and a screwdriver.

[lionaneesh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shabbir

You are getting confused with Pass By reference with Pass By Value.

Yes...
Sorry about that!!!

[UATLevan]

There really is no best, you have to know why you're passing by that choice when you create the function. One advantage of pass by pointer is you can set them to NULL to represent different things in your function while references have to point to an object even though that object might not be valid.


Allen LeVan
UAT Student