Beginning C++ Game Programming - Third Edition

9

C++ References, Sprite Sheets, and Vertex Arrays

In Chapter 4, Loops, Arrays, Switch, Enumerations, and Functions – Implementing Game Mechanics, we talked about scope. This is the concept that variables declared in a function or inner block of code only have scope (that is, can be seen or used) in that function or block. Using only the C++ knowledge we have currently can cause a problem. What do we do if we need to work on a few complex objects that are needed in the main function? This could imply that all the code must be in the main function.

In this chapter, we will explore C++ references, which allow us to work on variables and objects that are otherwise out of scope. In addition to this, these references will help us avoid having to ...