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diff --git a/docs/source/lang/cpp/pointer.rst b/docs/source/lang/cpp/pointer.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ff4ec32 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/source/lang/cpp/pointer.rst @@ -0,0 +1,31 @@ +.. _lang-pointer: + +Pointer Operators (``&``, ``*``) +================================ + +The pointer operators ``&`` (reference) and ``*`` (dereference) are +different from the bitwise math operator :ref:`& +<lang-bitwisemath-and>` and the arithmetic operator :ref:`* +<lang-arithmetic>`. + +Pointers are one of the more complicated subjects for beginners in +learning C, and it is possible to write many useful Arduino sketches +without ever encountering pointers. However, for manipulating certain +data structures, the use of pointers can simplify the code, improve +its efficiency, and generally provide many benefits that would be +difficult to achieve without the use of pointers. + +Introducing pointers is somewhat outside the scope of this +documentation. However, a good `pointer tutorial +<http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/>`_ is available. +Also see the `Wikipedia article on pointers +<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointer_%28computing%29>`_, especially +the section on `pointers in C +<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointer_%28computing%29#C_pointers>`_. + +See Also +-------- + +- http://xkcd.com/138/ + +.. include:: /arduino-cc-attribution.txt |