Reference

Definitions

1. An alias or handle that refers to an object or value stored elsewhere in memory, allowing multiple variables or structures to access the same underlying data without copying it. Semantics vary by language — C++ references are immutable aliases, Java references are rebindable pointers to heap objects, and Rust references carry borrow-checker lifetime constraints.

   In plain English: A label that points to some data in memory so you can use it without making a duplicate copy.

   Example: "Passing the struct by reference avoids a deep copy and lets the callee mutate the original."

Related Terms

• garbage collector
• Linked List
• Mutable
• Operator Precedence
• Parameter Passing
• Pass by Reference
• Pass by Value
• Random Access