Suppose I have 2 pointers:
int *a = something;
int *b = something;
If I want to compare them and see if they point at the same object, does a == b work?
Suppose I have 2 pointers: int *a = something; int *b = something; If
Share
Sign Up to our social questions and Answers Engine to ask questions, answer people’s questions, and connect with other people.
Login to our social questions & Answers Engine to ask questions answer people’s questions & connect with other people.
Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this user should be reported.
Suppose I have 2 pointers:
int *a = something;
int *b = something;
If I want to compare them and see if they point at the same object, does a == b work?
Yes, that is the definition of raw pointer equality: they both point to the same location (or are pointer aliases); usually in the virtual address space of the process running your application coded in C++ and managed by some operating system (but C++ can also be used for programming embedded devices with micro-controllers having a Harward architecture: on such microcontrollers some pointer casts are forbidden and makes no sense – since read only data could sit in code ROM)
For C++, read a good C++ programming book, see this C++ reference website, read the documentation of your C++ compiler (perhaps GCC or Clang) and consider coding with smart pointers. Maybe read also some draft C++ standard, like n4713 or buy the official standard from your ISO representative.
The concepts and terminology of garbage collection are also relevant when managing pointers and memory zones obtained by dynamic allocation (e.g.
::operator new), so read perhaps the GC handbook.For pointers on Linux machines, see also this.