C# ref is it like a pointer in C/C++ or a reference in C++?

Question

I\'m working with the ref and don\'t understand clearly \"Is it like a pointer as in C/C++ or it\'s like a reference in C++?\"

Why did I ask such a

Answer 1

A ref in C# is equivalent to a C++ reference:

• Their intent is pass-by-reference
• There are no null references
• There are no uninitialized references
• You cannot rebind references
• When you spell the reference, you are actually denoting the referred variable

Some C++ code:

void foo(int& x)
{
    x = 42;
}
// ...
int answer = 0;
foo(answer);

Equivalent C# code:

void foo(ref int x)
{
    x = 42;
}
// ...
int answer = 0;
foo(ref answer);