Declaring pointer:
int a; int *x=&a;
x occupies 8 bytes of memory
Likewise if we declare a reference to a variable:
int a; int &x =a;
How much memory does the the reference to a occupy?
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1Where does it say `x` as a pointer occupies 8? Or that it has to occupy any memory at all as a reference? – StoryTeller - Unslander Monica May 22 '17 at 12:50
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@StoryTeller: 1) presumably in the compiler documentation, as it's Implementation Defined. 2) Not. – MSalters May 22 '17 at 12:53
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@MSalters - The OP didn't specify a compiler. They only specified the language tags. Which I think means we can say "the standard doesn't define it, and you should not make implicit assumptions". – StoryTeller - Unslander Monica May 22 '17 at 12:56
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@StoryTeller if you check sizeof(x) in ubuntu in gnu c compiler you will get 8 bytes – user1825567 May 23 '17 at 10:07
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That's undefined. Not as in Undefined Behavior, but the question simply doesn't have an answer.
MSalters
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Well, it could have an answer *when using a particular compiler on a particular piece of code*. It doesn't have an answer in a general sense. I'd say "unspecified" fits the C++ terminology better. – Bartek Banachewicz May 22 '17 at 12:54
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@BartekBanachewicz: Actually, we see in real compilers that it varies depending on the exact usage. Calling it "unspecified" suggests there's a compiler-dependent single value that's just unknown. – MSalters May 22 '17 at 12:57