References (C++)

A reference, like a pointer, stores the address of an object that is located elsewhere in memory. Unlike a pointer, a reference after it's initialized can't be made to refer to a different object or set to null. There are two kinds of references: lvalue references, which refer to a named variable and rvalue references, which refer to a temporary object. The & operator signifies an lvalue reference and the && operator signifies either an rvalue reference, or a universal reference (either rvalue or lvalue) depending on the context.

References may be declared using the following syntax:

[storage-class-specifiers] [cv-qualifiers] type-specifiers [ms-modifier] declarator [= expression];

Any valid declarator specifying a reference may be used. Unless the reference is a reference to function or array type, the following simplified syntax applies:

[storage-class-specifiers] [cv-qualifiers] type-specifiers [& or &&] [cv-qualifiers] identifier [= expression];

References are declared using the following sequence:

1. The declaration specifiers:

   • An optional storage class specifier.
   • Optional const and/or volatile qualifiers.
   • The type specifier: the name of a type.

2. The declarator:

   • An optional Microsoft-specific modifier. For more information, see Microsoft-Specific Modifiers.

   • The & operator or && operator.

   • Optional const and/or volatile qualifers.

   • The identifier.

3. An optional initializer.

The more complex declarator forms for pointers to arrays and functions also apply to references to arrays and functions. For more information, see pointers.

Multiple declarators and initializers may appear in a comma-separated list following a single declaration specifier. For example:

int &i;
int &i, &j;

References, pointers, and objects may be declared together:

int &ref, *ptr, k;

A reference holds the address of an object, but behaves syntactically like an object.

In the following program, notice that the name of the object, s, and the reference to the object, SRef, can be used identically in programs:

Example

// references.cpp
#include <stdio.h>
struct S {
   short i;
};

int main() {
   S  s;   // Declare the object.
   S& SRef = s;   // Declare and initialize the reference.
   s.i = 3;

   printf_s("%d\n", s.i);
   printf_s("%d\n", SRef.i);

   SRef.i = 4;
   printf_s("%d\n", s.i);
   printf_s("%d\n", SRef.i);
}

3
3
4
4

See also

Reference-Type Function Arguments
Reference-Type Function Returns
References to Pointers