Understanding pointer semantics in C++
This easy question tests your grasp of how pointers work in C++—a foundational skill for any systems-level interview, especially at firms that care about memory-safe, efficient code. You'll read a short code snippet and reason about what it actually does at the semantic level.
The question rewards clarity on pointer declaration, dereferencing, and the difference between the pointer itself and the value it points to. Even experienced developers can misread pointer syntax under time pressure, so slowing down to trace the semantics carefully is the right approach.
- Pointer declaration and initialization
- The dereference operator and address-of operator
- Stack vs. heap allocation and scope