Pointers and Functions

Examples:
1. Pointers as parameters VS reference parameters
2. Swap – fix errors
3. Copy an array to another array
4. Pass an array to a function
5. Find the error – return a pointer from a function

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1. Pointers as parameters VS reference parameters

main

mixUp

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 int main()
{
int x = 20;
main int y = 30;
int z = 40;

mixUp( z, x, y );
cout << x << " " << y << " " << z;

mixUp return 0;
}

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 int main()
{
int x = 20;
main int y = 30;
int z = 40;

mixUp( z, x, y );
cout << x << " " << y << " " << z;
return 0;
mixUp }
/* =========================== */
void mixUp(int a, int &b, int &c)
{
a = 100; // z in main() does not change
b = 60; // x in main() does change!
c = 70; // y in main() does change!
}

Parameter a – is a value parameter (it is a copy of z, the matching argument)

Parameter b – is a reference parameter (it is a reference to x, its matching argument)
Parameter c – is a reference parameter (it is a reference to y, its matching argument)
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1. Pointers as parameters VS reference parameters

main

mixUp

In C++ reference parameters are based on pointers; we can use pointers instead of
reference parameter!

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 int main()
{
int x = 20;
main int y = 30;
int z = 40;

mixUp( z, &x, &y );

cout << x << " " << y << " " << z;

mixUp return 0;
}

In the calling statement, pass the address of arguments: &x. &y

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 int main()
{
int x = 20;
main int y = 30;
int z = 40;

mixUp( z, &x, &y );

cout << x << " " << y << " " << z;
return 0;
mixUp }
/* =========================== */
void mixUp(int a, int *b, int *c)
{
a = 100;
*b = 60;
*c = 70;
}

In the function definition, declare the matching parameters to be pointers, and dereference
them when used in statements.

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 x y z
main 20 30 40

a b c
mixUp

mixUp( z, &x, &y );

void mixUp(int a, int *b, int *c);

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 x y z
main 20 30 40

a b c
mixUp 40 &x &y

mixUp( z, &x, &y );

void mixUp(int a, int *b, int *c);

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 x y z
main 20 30 40

a b c
mixUp 40 &x &y

mixUp( z, &x, &y );

void mixUp(int a, int *b, int *c);

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 x y z
main 20 30 40

a b c
mixUp 40 &x &y

void mixUp(int a, int *b, int *c)

{
a = 100;
*b = 60;
*c = 70;
}

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 x y z
main 20 60 30 70 40

a b c
mixUp 40 100 &x &y

void mixUp(int a, int *b, int *c)

{
a = 100;
*b = 60;
*c = 70;
}

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 x y z
main 60 70 40

mixUp Output: 60 70 40

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2. Swap – fix errors

main
void swap(int a, int b);

int main(void)
{
int x = 20;
swap int y = 30;

void swap(int a, int b) // . . .

{ swap(x, y);
int hold; // . . .
return 0;
hold = a; }
a = b;
b = hold;
}

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swap( x, y); // this call does nothing to x and y
swap(&x, &y); // use pointers

main
void swap(int *a, int *b);

int main(void)
{
int x = 20;
swap int y = 30;

void swap(int *a, int *b) // . . .

{ swap(&x, &y);
int hold; // . . .
return 0;
hold = *a; }
*a = *b;
*b = hold;
}

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 Pointers as Parameters VS Reference Parameters
void swap(int *a, int *b); void swap(int &a, int &b);

int main(void) int main(void)

{ {
int x = 20; int x = 20;
int y = 30; int y = 30;

// . . . // . . .
swap(&x, &y); swap(x, y);
// . . . // . . .
return 0; return 0;
} }
/* ===================== */ /* ===================== */
void swap(int *a, int *b) void swap(int &a, int &b)
{ {
int hold; int hold;

hold = *a; hold = a;

*a = *b; a = b;
*b = hold; b = hold;
} }

In summary, reference parameters are easier to work with, therefore we will continue to use them.
Knowing pointers gives us a better understanding of reference parameters.
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3. Make a copy of an array
– one element at a time (assume the two arrays have the same size, 5)

int a[5] = { 98, 76, 84, 100, 95 };

int b[5];
int i;

for( i = 0; i < 5; i++ )

b[i] = a[i];

Writing b = a; does not work. Why?

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The name of an array represents the address of its first element. In
other words b = a; is equivalent to &b[0] = &a[0];.

These addresses may be used but not changed.

However, we do not wish to change &b[0], just to copy the contents

of a to b, and this must be done one element at a time.

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4. Pass an array to a function

int main()
{
int size = 5;
double a[9] = { 2.1, 3.5, 1.7, 8.9, 5.6 };
. . .
printAry( a, size );
return 0; &a[0] 5
}

void printAry ( double ary[], int arySize )

{
for( int i = 0; i < arySize; i++ )
cout << ary[i] << " ";
}

The name of an array in C++ represents the address of its first element (it is a pointer constant)
a &a[0]
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int main()
{
int size = 5;
double a[9] = { 2.1, 3.5, 1.7, 8.9, 5.6 };
. . .
printAry( a, size );
return 0;
}
&a[0] 5
void printAry ( double ary[], int arySize )
{
for( int i = 0; i < arySize; i++ )
cout << ary[i] << " ";
}

a &a[0]
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4. Pass an array to a function

int main()
{
int size = 5;
double a[9] = { 2.1, 3.5, 1.7, 8.9, 5.6 };
. . .
printAry( a, size );
return 0; &a[0] 5
}

void printAry ( const double ary[], int arySize )

{
for( int i = 0; i < arySize; i++ )
cout << ary[i] << " ";
}

Q: Does this mean that arrays are always reference parameters?

A: Yes, and if you want to emphasize that a function should not change the array, declare the
array parameter constant, as shown above 21
5. Find the error
char *getFileName();

int main()
{
char *name;

name = getFileName();
cout << name << endl;
return 0;
}

char *getFileName()
{
char fileName[31];

cout << "File name: ";

cin >> fileName;
return fileName;
}
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char *getFileName();

int main()
{ Do not return the address of
char *name;
a local variable!
name = getFileName();
cout << name << endl; Although it is possible to return a pointer
return 0; from a function (we’ll see such examples
later), never return the address of a local
} variable, since local variables no longer
exist after the call).
char *getFileName()
{ Note: the name of an array in C++
char fileName[31]; represents the address of its first element
(it is a pointer constant)

cout << "File name: ";

cin >> fileName;
return fileName;
}
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Pointers provide efficient techniques for
manipulating data in arrays.

Pointers are the basis for dynamic allocation

of memory.

Pointers could be used in functions for

reference parameters. ✔

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Pointers and Functions

Examples:
ü 1. Pointers as parameters VS reference parameters
ü 2. Swap – fix errors
ü 3. Copy an array to another array
ü 4. Pass an array to a function
ü 5. Find the error – return a pointer from a function

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