C : Initialise reference to variable with double

Question

What does the following do:

double &number = 12.4;

It should assign the reference to variable of type double as 12.4

but isn't a reference to variable an address of a pointer . Why does it work?

double & Getsomenumber()
{
    static double number = 12.4;

    double &anotherNumber = number;

    return anotherNumber;}

The function has the problem that it returns a reference to a local object. As soon as the function returns, the value is gone. — Bo Persson, Mar 17 '13 at 19:45

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 17 '13 at 19:30

That's illegal syntax, there are no references in C.

If you meant C++, then that is also invalid, you can't bind temporaries to non-const references. const double& number = 12.4 would work.

So "Why does it work?" isn't a valid question - it doesn't, not for C, not for C++.

but isn't a reference to variable an address of a pointer

No. A reference is just an alias - you're basically referring to the same variable via a different name.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 17 '13 at 19:36

0

What you are doing should actually work this way:

const double& number = 12.4;

Actually you shouldn't be able to create a reference to a const Expression without const.

answered Mar 17 '13 at 19:36

bash.d

2 Answers2