Pass a pointers value by reference

Question

Is it possible to refer to the address value the pointer variable holds. My function is something(int &num); and I need to pass a pointer to it; int* i = new int(1); like &(*(i)); can this be done?

im using qt and I don't know why but; *&ui->numberInput->text() gives a QString &ui->numberInput->text() gives a *QString, *ui->numberOutput->text() gives *QLabel-text() and ui->numberInput->text() gives a QString. It wont be accepted as a &QString??

Answer 1

you simply pass it like this

something(*i);

Answer 2

Yes, the value of a pointer can be passed by value, reference and constant reference.

By Value:

void myfunc(char * p_text);

By Reference:

void yourfunc(char *& p_text);

By Constant Reference:

void theirfunc(char * & const p_text);

Answer 3

Yes. The syntax is *&p.

Answer 4

It wont be accepted as a &QString??

& serves a few different purposes in C++. In the declaration of a type it means "reference" while in usage with a variable it could be "address of". It's not entirely clear which you're trying to indicate here. Showing us what you're trying to pass and then the declaration of the function you're trying to pass it to might have been clearer.

That said, you mention QLabel::text() which returns a QString. If you want to pass the result of text() to a function taking a reference to a QString then you can just do so directly.

// Given a function with this declaration
void SomeFunction(const QString& parameter);
// and also this varable.
QLabel* l = new QLabel;

// Then the following call would work:
SomeFunction(l->text());

On the other hand, if this wasn't what you meant then show us the actual code you're having problems with and the error message that you're getting from it.