Could someone explain pointers please?

[CppCoder101]

Hi! I have watched quite a few C++ tutorial videos and a few text explanations, and one of the parts that always confuse me are pointers! But I may understand them. Tell me if this is how I could think of a pointer.

So say we had a block of code with 2 variables, one which is just a normal int variable, and one that is a pointer int that points to the memory address of health:

int health = 80;
int *health2 = &health;

So basically, with health2 pointing to the memory address, health2 is able to modify the health variable because it is pointing to the memory address of health? If so then I understand pointers but could someone please give me a hand with this. I have heard that it is quite a confusing topic for many people but hopefully when I grasp it I will understand how they work!

Check out this code and tell me if they will both do the same:

CODE PIECE 1:

int health = 80;

CODE PIECE 2:

int health;
int *health2 = &health;
*health2 = 80;

Would these two code pieces do the same thing? Thanks!

[Zhuge]

Essentially, yes. You seem to understand the concept of pointers fine.

[CppCoder101]

Thanks! :) Really appreciate the help

[LB]

CppCoder101 wrote:

So basically, with health2 pointing to the memory address

health2 stores the memory address, and "points" to data at that address.