Pointers, References & Classes

A pointer stores the memory address of a value; a reference is a safer alias for an existing variable. Together with classes (grouping data and behavior, just like in Java or Python), these are what set C++ apart from higher-level languages.

• int* p = &x; — p holds the address of x; *p reads its value.
• void increment(int& x) — a reference parameter lets a function modify the caller's variable directly.
• A class bundles data (fields) and behavior (methods) into one type, same idea as Java/Python.
• Modern C++ prefers smart pointers (std::unique_ptr) over raw new/delete — covered at the Advanced level.

💡 Practical Skill: Understanding what a pointer actually points to — before writing one — prevents the majority of C++ crashes beginners run into.

#include <iostream>#include <string> class Car {public:    std::string brand;     Car(std::string b) : brand(b) {}   // constructor     void honk() {        std::cout << brand << " says: Beep beep!" << std::endl;    }}; void addYear(int& age) {   // reference: modifies the caller's variable    age = age + 1;} int main() {    Car myCar("Toyota");    myCar.honk();               // Toyota says: Beep beep!     int carAge = 3;    addYear(carAge);    std::cout << "Car age next year: " << carAge << std::endl;  // 4    return 0;}