Reference to reference?

[Gernot Frisch]

Hi,

just a stupid question:
int a(0),b(1);
int& ra = a;
int& rb = b;

ra = rb; // copies the data from b to a, right?

How would you copy the pointer to b in ra, so that ra points to b?

 

[Öö Tiib]

Hi,

just a stupid question:
int a(0),b(1);
int& ra = a;
int& rb = b;

ra = rb; // copies the data from b to a, right?

How would you copy the pointer to b in ra, so that ra points to b?

You wouldnt. Reference is not pointer. It is behaving very similarly
to constant pointer to (possibly non-constant) object. Try with such
pointers:

int* const pa = &a;
int* const pb = &b;
*pa = *pb; // copies the data from b to a
pa = pb; // error.

 

[red floyd]

Hi,

just a stupid question:
int a(0),b(1);
int& ra = a;
int& rb = b;

ra = rb; // copies the data from b to a, right?

How would you copy the pointer to b in ra, so that ra points to b?

Repeat after me. "A Reference is not a Pointer".


Yes, a reference *may be* implemented as a pointer under the hood,
but that's irrelevant. Also, in your example code, the compiler
probably completely optimizes out the reference, so there's no
"underlying" implementation details.

A reference cannot be reseated once initialized.