Raw Pointers
This article is quite advanced and assumes you have an understanding of C++. If not, please refer to the C++ section of this book!
Raw pointers (*) are pointers that directly store the memory address of another variable. They are considered “raw” because they provide a direct and unmanaged interface to memory.
int* somePtr; // Declaration of an integer pointer
Simple and straightforward to use, they directly represent memory addresses, making them easy to understand for developers with experience in lower-level programming, and don’t introduce the memory overhead that tends to accompany other types of pointers, such as smart pointers.
When interacting with C libraries or other languages that don’t have the concept of smart pointers, they are also the most compatible option.
#include <iostream>
int main()
{
int someValue = 69; // Declare initial value
int* rawPointer = &someValue; // Create raw pointer + assign the address of someValue to it
// Print the value using the raw pointer
std::cout << "Value using raw pointer: " << *rawPointer << std::endl;
return someValue;
}
// Console Output:
// Value using raw pointer: 69