What does "* & " mean in a parameter?

[hopesfall]

This is a problem listed at the end of a book I've been reading and this one really stumped me:

In some circumstances when implementing recursive operations on linked lists, the parameter to the recursive method is declared using a syntax similar to someOper(ListNode * & listPtr). What's the purpose of the *& in that declaration. Why is it necessary?

Can anyone help me out?

[3TkL1hU5]

http://bit.ly/zlbAdf

[therockon7throw]

Hi

in -> (ListNode * & listPtr) -> listPtr is a refrence to
a pointer of type ListNode

Example

struct Int{

	int i;
};

void boo(Int* &a){
	a->i = 3;
}

int main() {

	Int t ;
	t.i = 2;
	Int *b = &t;
	cout<< b->i<<endl;
	boo( b );
	cout<<b->i<<endl;
	return 0;
}

[zb0S216C]

It signifies a reference to a pointer.

_Wazzak