dereference

[ˌdiːˈref(ə)rəns]

dereference Definition

  • 1to obtain the value of the object or variable that a pointer is pointing to
  • 2to access the contents of a memory location using its address

Using dereference: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dereference" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    To get the value of the variable, you need to dereference the pointer.

  • Example

    Dereferencing a null pointer can cause a segmentation fault.

  • Example

    The program crashed because it tried to dereference an uninitialized pointer.

dereference Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for dereference

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Summary: dereference in Brief

The verb 'dereference' [ˌdiːˈref(ə)rəns] means to obtain the value of an object or variable that a pointer is pointing to, or to access the contents of a memory location using its address. It is commonly used in programming and computer science.