What is the difference between the dot (.) operator and -> in C++? [duplicate]

Answer 1

The target. dot works on objects; arrow works on pointers to objects.

std::string str("foo");
std::string * pstr = new std::string("foo");

str.size ();
pstr->size ();

Answer 2

The . (dot) operator is usually used to get a field / call a method from an instance of class (or a static field / method of a class).

p.myField, p.myMethod() - p instance of a class

The -> (arrow) operator is used to get a field / call a method from the content pointed by the class.

p->myField, p->myMethod() - p points to a class