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8. Pointers

Pointers as function arguments

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Reading 1

Out-parameters via pointers

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A function can take a pointer parameter and write through it: void set(int* p) { *p = 5; }.

Call it with set(&x). This is another way to let a function modify the caller’s data — related to references, but with explicit addresses.

Check for nullptr before dereferencing when a pointer might be empty.

void setFortyTwo(int* p) {
    if (p != nullptr) {
        *p = 42;
    }
}

int main() {
    int x = 0;
    setFortyTwo(&x);
    cout << x << endl;
    return 0;
}

Check 2

Call site

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To pass variable x to void f(int* p), you write

Fill in 3

Empty pointer

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The null pointer literal commonly used in modern C++ is

Try it 4

setFortyTwo

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Call it on another variable.

main.cpp
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Assignment 5

Write addOne

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Write void addOne(int* p) that adds 1 to the int pointed to by p. In main, read n, call addOne(&n), print n.

main.cpp
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