Question

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What does the caret mean in C++/CLI?
In C++/CLR, what does a hat character ^ do?

I created my first Win form application in Visual Studio C++, and browsing through the code saw something that I cannot understand:

private: System::Windows::Forms::Button^  button1;

What is the meaning of ^ sign in this line? I understand * and & but never seen ^ in definition of an object.

Answer 1

Have a look here this is not just C++ but C++/CLI

In C++/CLI the only type of pointer is the normal C++ pointer, and the .NET reference types are accessed through a “handle”, with the new syntax ClassName^ instead of ClassName*. This new construct is especially helpful when managed and standard C++ code is mixed; it clarifies which objects are under .NET automatic garbage collection and which objects the programmer must remember to explicitly destroy.