A pointer is a variable that stores the memory address of another variable. Pointers hold addresses, while regular variables hold values. Computer memory is divided into sequentially numbered locations, with each variable assigned a unique address. Pointers allow manipulation of memory at a low level, making C++ suitable for embedded and real-time applications. Declaring a pointer simply requires specifying its type, like int*, and it reserves memory to hold an address. Pointers must be initialized, like int* pointer = 0, to avoid being "wild" pointers pointing to unknown memory. The address operator & returns a variable's address, which can be stored in a pointer.

1. Author – Subhasis Nayak

2.  A pointer is a variable that holds a
memory address. That’s it.
 This is what the difference in between
variable and pointer.
◦ Pointer holds the address
◦ Variable holds the value.

3.  Computer memory is divided into
sequentially numbered memory locations.
Each variable is located at a unique location
in memory, known as its address.
Memory representation

4.  Thecapability to use pointers and
manipulate memory at a low level
is one of the factors that makes
C++ the language of choice for
embedded and real-time
applications.

5.  Different computers number this memory
using different complex schemes.
 We must happy, as a programmer, We don’t
need to know the particular address of any
given variable because the compiler handles
the details.
 If we want this information, though, you can
use the address-of operator (&), which
returns the address of an object in memory.

7.  It is so simple to declare a pointer. We need
the type of the pointer
 Next the name of the pointer.
 When we declare a pointer variable such as
pointer, the compiler sets aside enough
memory to hold an address
int *pointer;

8.  A pointer that is not initialized is called a wild
pointer because you have no idea what it is
pointing to.
 If you want to initialize you can as like we do
for variable. int *intPointer = 0;
 A pointer whose value is zero is called a null
pointer.
 All pointers, when they are created, should be
initialized to something.

9.  Every variable has an address. Even without
knowing the specific address, you can store a
variable’s address in a pointer.
Declaring pointer Passing address

10. Holds the value
Holds the address

11.  Type must be same to the variable whose
address is going to pass to the pointer.
 When you want to pass the address of the
variable use (&) before the variable name.
 When you want to pass the value use (*)
before the pointer.