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

in c# you can check run unsafe in your project properties and then you can run this code

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace Exercise_01
{
    public struct Coords
    {
        public int X;
        public int Y;
        public override string ToString() => $"({X}, {Y})";
    }
    class Program
    {


        static unsafe void Main(string[] args)
        {
            int n = 0;
            SumCallByRefPointer(1, 2, &n);
            Console.Clear();
            Console.WriteLine("call by refrence {0}",n);

            n = 0;
            SumCallByValue(3, 4, n);
            Console.WriteLine("call by Value {0}", n);

            n = 0;
            SumCallByRef(5, 6, ref n);
            Console.WriteLine("call by refrence {0}", n);

            Pointer();
            Console.ReadLine();
        } 


        private static unsafe void SumCallByRefPointer(int a, int b, int* c)
        {
            *c = a + b;
        }

        private static unsafe void SumCallByValue(int a, int b, int c)
        {
            c = a + b;
        } 

        private static unsafe void SumCallByRef(int a, int b, ref int c)
        {
            c = a + b;
        }


        public static void Pointer()
        {
            unsafe
            {
                Coords coords;
                Coords* p = &coords;
                p->X = 3;
                p->Y = 4;
                Console.WriteLine(p->ToString());  // output: (3, 4)
            }
        }
    }
}