references.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int main() {

    // ===================================================
    // 1. CREATING REFERENCES
    // ===================================================
    // A reference variable is an ALIAS (another name) for an existing variable.
    // Created using the `&` operator.
    
    string food = "Pizza";  // Original variable
    string &meal = food;   // Reference (alias) to food

    cout << "=== 1. CREATING REFERENCES ===" << endl;
    cout << "Food: " << food << endl; // Output: Pizza
    cout << "Meal: " << meal << endl; // Output: Pizza


    // ===================================================
    // 2. UPDATING THROUGH REFERENCES
    // ===================================================
    // Since food and meal refer to the EXACT SAME memory location,
    // changing one will also change the original variable.

    cout << "\n=== 2. UPDATING THROUGH REFERENCES ===" << endl;
    meal = "Burger"; // Modifying value via reference

    cout << "Food: " << food << endl; // Output: Burger
    cout << "Meal: " << meal << endl; // Output: Burger


    // ===================================================
    // 3. MEMORY ADDRESS
    // ===================================================
    // The `&` operator is also used to retrieve a variable's memory address (in Hexadecimal format, e.g., 0x6dfed4).

    cout << "\n=== 3. MEMORY ADDRESS ===" << endl;
    cout << "Memory Address of food: " << &food << endl;
    cout << "Memory Address of meal: " << &meal << endl; // Address is EXACTLY THE SAME as &food!


    // ===================================================
    // KEY TAKEAWAYS:
    // ===================================================
    /*
     1. A reference does NOT allocate new memory; it simply creates an alias name.
     2. References and Pointers are crucial in C++ for manipulating data directly
        in computer memory, which optimizes memory usage & boosts program performance.
    */

    return 0;
}