<p data-start="0" data-end="158">In C++, <strong data-start="8" data-end="20">pointers and <strong data-start="25" data-end="39">references are both used to manage memory and access variables indirectly, but they have key differences in behavior and usage.

<p data-start="160" data-end="532">A <strong data-start="162" data-end="173">pointer is a variable that holds the memory address of another variable. It can be reassigned to point to different variables or dynamically allocated memory. Pointers require explicit dereferencing using the <code data-start="375" data-end="378">*</code> operator to access the value they point to. Additionally, pointers can store <code data-start="456" data-end="465">nullptr</code>, indicating that they do not point to any valid memory location.

<p data-start="534" data-end="962">A <strong data-start="536" data-end="549">reference, on the other hand, is an alias for an existing variable. Once a reference is initialized, it cannot be changed to refer to another variable. Unlike pointers, references do not require dereferencing, making them easier to use. They always refer to a valid object, eliminating the risk of null references. References are commonly used in function arguments to avoid copying large objects and improve efficiency.

<p data-start="964" data-end="1195">Choosing between pointers and references depends on the use case. Pointers are useful for dynamic memory management and implementing data structures like linked lists, while references are preferred for safer, more readable code.



<p data-start="1197" data-end="1356" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">For students struggling with these concepts, seeking C assignment help online can provide expert guidance in mastering pointers and references effectively.