C++Talk.NET C++ language newsgroups   Archives   FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  Pointer or Reference          C++Talk.NET Forum Index -> C++ language (comp.lang.c++) View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message Macca Guest Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:24 pm    Post subject: Pointer or Reference Hi, I am looking to pass a Structure to a function. I was wondering what the most efficent way of doing this was, by pointer or by reference? Thanks In Advance Macca Back to top John Harrison Guest Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Pointer or Reference "Macca" <asbc31 (AT) dial (DOT) pipex.com> wrote Quote: Hi, I am looking to pass a Structure to a function. I was wondering what the most efficent way of doing this was, by pointer or by reference? Thanks In Advance Macca They are likely to be equally efficient. It's a bogus question to ask in any case because you should be concentrating on the meaning of your code, not micro-efficiency. Which is more meaningful to use, a pointer or a reference? For instance if you want sometimes to pass NULL then you should use a pointer since you cannot have a NULL reference. But in general I would say a reference is the more meaningful choice. john Back to top Victor Bazarov Guest Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:36 pm    Post subject: Re: Pointer or Reference Macca wrote: Quote: I am looking to pass a Structure to a function. I was wondering what the most efficent way of doing this was, by pointer or by reference? In most cases there is no difference in efficiency. As to the semantics, you need to decide whether it would be possible to have "no object" situation. If so, pass a pointer, and passing a null pointer will indicate "no object". If your function cannot work in a situation when no object is given, then pass by reference. V Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         C++Talk.NET Forum Index -> C++ language (comp.lang.c++) All times are GMT Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum C/C++----------------C LanguageC Language (Moderated)C++ Language (Moderated)C++ language (comp.lang.c++)C++ language, library and standards Non-English C/C++ Newsgroups----------------C++ (German)C++ (French)  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2006 phpBB Group SEO toolkit © 2004-2006 webmedic.