How to create a reference variable in c++?

Question

I have created a reference variable but I can't get the expected result. The reference variable is printing some hexadecimal numbers like >>>0x6ffe20

 #include <iostream>
 using namespace std;
 int main(){
      string food = "pizza";
      string &meal = food;
      cout << food << endl;
      cout << &meal << endl;
      cout << "The &meal and food variable are same " << endl;
    
}

`cout << &meal << endl;` on right hand side `&` means `address of`. You already have a reference, and it doesn't need to be taken the address of — The Dreams Wind, Aug 24 '22 at 08:25
This is explained in any beginner level [c++ book](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/388242/the-definitive-c-book-guide-and-list). — Jason, Aug 24 '22 at 08:28

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 24 '22 at 08:25

0

Just do a cout << meal;

With cout << &meal; you are printing the memory address of the reference. The & means address.

answered Aug 24 '22 at 08:25

Heiko Vogel

172
6

In an expression `&` means address-of, in a declaration it means reference. I guess that's where the confusion comes from. – john Aug 24 '22 at 08:31
2

Actually it's not the memory address of the reference, but the address of the referenced variable. – j6t Aug 24 '22 at 08:32
Well, as the reference is just a another name for the same variable, the address of the reference and the address of the referenced variable are the same! – Heiko Vogel Aug 25 '22 at 08:14

How to create a reference variable in c++?

1 Answers1