The difference between Pointer and Reference

When used as nouns, pointer means anything that points or is used for pointing, whereas reference means a relationship or relation ( something).

Reference is also verb with the meaning: to provide a list of references for (a text).

check bellow for the other definitions of Pointer and Reference

  1. Pointer as a noun:

    Anything that points or is used for pointing.

  2. Pointer as a noun:

    A teacher's pointer, pointing stick, a rod with an arrow

  3. Pointer as a noun:

    A needle-like component of a timepiece or measuring device that indicates the time or the current reading of the device.

  4. Pointer as a noun:

    A breed of hunting dog, trained to point out game.

  5. Pointer as a noun (programming):

    A variable that holds the address of a memory location where a value can be stored.

  6. Pointer as a noun (computing):

    An icon that indicates the position of the mouse; a cursor.

  7. Pointer as a noun (mostly, plural):

    A tip, a bit of advice.

    Examples:

    "The instructor gave me some pointers on writing a good paper."

  8. Pointer as a noun (in combinations):

    Something worth a given number of points.

    Examples:

    "a ten-pointer"

  1. Reference as a noun (literary, or, archaic):

    A relationship or relation ( something).

  2. Reference as a noun:

    A measurement one can compare to.

  3. Reference as a noun:

    Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted.

  4. Reference as a noun:

    A person who provides this information; a referee.

  5. Reference as a noun:

    A reference work.

  6. Reference as a noun (semantics):

    A relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object.

  7. Reference as a noun (academic writing):

    A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.

  8. Reference as a noun (academic writing):

    A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.

  9. Reference as a noun (programming):

    An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.

  10. Reference as a noun (programming, character entity):

    A special sequence used to represent complex characters in markup languages, such as ™ for the ™ symbol.

  11. Reference as a noun (obsolete):

    Appeal.

  1. Reference as a verb:

    To provide a list of references for (a text).

    Examples:

    "You must thoroughly reference your paper before submitting it."

  2. Reference as a verb:

    To refer to, to use as a reference.

    Examples:

    "'Reference the dictionary for word meanings."

  3. Reference as a verb:

    To mention, to cite.

    Examples:

    "In his speech, the candidate obliquely referenced the past failures of his opponent."

  4. Reference as a verb (programming):

    To contain the value that is a memory address of some value stored in memory.

    Examples:

    "The given pointer will reference the actual generated data."

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