Assigning Values Using Pointer Syntax in C++

Understanding Pointer Syntax in C++

In C++, pointers are variables that store memory addresses as their values. They are used to work with memory locations and can be very powerful tools in programming. When working with pointers, it is crucial to understand how to properly assign values using pointer syntax.

Assignment Scenario

Assuming we have the following variables:

int year = 2021;

int *p_year = &year;

Which of the below statements will assign the value of 2023 to the year variable using pointer syntax (i.e. via p_year)?

Group of Answer Choices:

A) year = 2023;

B) p_year = 2023;

C) &p_year = 2023;

D) *p_year = 2023;

Which statement will correctly assign the value of 2023 to the year variable using pointer syntax?

Final answer: The correct statement to Assigning values using pointer syntax is *p_year = 2023;

Explanation: The correct statement to assign the value of 2023 to the year variable using pointer syntax (via p_year) is option D) *p_year = 2023;

A) year = 2023; - This statement directly assigns the value to the year variable, not using the pointer.

B) p_year = 2023; - This statement assigns the integer value of 2023 directly to the pointer variable p_year, instead of modifying the value it points to.

C) &p_year = 2023; - This syntax is incorrect. It attempts to assign a value to the address of p_year, which is not allowed.

D) *p_year = 2023; - This statement dereferences the pointer p_year using the * operator and assigns the value of 2023 to the memory location it points to, which updates the value of the year variable to 2023.