6. Pointers: Getting a Handle on Data
In interviewing technical writers for Microsoft, I would see on candidates’ resumes advanced C and C++ programming listed as accomplished skills. So, I would ask candidates to explain the concept of a pointer to me in their own words. I was interested only in how articulate they could be on a technical subject.
Too often, they’d look at me dumbfounded. They had forgotten an important rule of resume padding: If you claim to know C++, you’re supposed to know what a pointer is...or at least make up a good bluff answer.
In this chapter, I’ll explain what pointers are and—more importantly—why you should care.
What the Heck Is a Pointer, Anyway?
First, you need to know what an address is. The CPU doesn’t understand ...
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