/*
 * You can (and often do) use the pointer declarator in combination with
 * the reference operator.
 */
void pointer_declarator_examples(){
  int x;           // declare an integer named x (currently uninitialized)
  int *ptr;        // declare a pointer to an integer (currently uninitialized)
 
  ptr = &x;        // set the value of ptr to be the address of x
                   // note that here, & is used as the reference operator
                   // also, even though x has no value, it does have an address

  std::cout << &x << endl;
  std::cout << ptr << endl;

  std::string s = "hello world!";
  std::string *ptr_to_str = &s;
  std::string **ptr_to_ptr_to_str = &ptr_to_str; // no problem here!
}



/* Here are some simple examples of the dereference operator being used */
void dereference_operator_example(){
  int x = 3;

  int *y = &x; // * as the pointer declarator. & as the reference operator.

  int z = *y;  // * is used as the dereference operator.

  std::string s = "hello world!";
  std::string *ptr_to_str = &s;  
  
  std::string *ptr_to_str_2;
  ptr_to_str_2 = ptr_to_str;

  std::string s_2 = *ptr_to_str_2; 
}