Object Oriented Programming with C++, Second Edition

12.13 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF POINTERS

Every useful entity has both advantages and disadvantages. Please note the following points.

• Dangling pointers, mostly, create difficult to diagnose errors.
• Pointers lead to memory leaks.
• For parameter passing with reference, in C language using pointers were compulsory. Now C++ has new construct which is far superior.
• Majority of string handling operations depend on pointer to char.
• Pointers make developing/coding of certain Abstract Data Types (e.g. self referential structures) very simple.
• Searching/sorting of large size data is very efficient.
• Polymorphic behaviour of objects is possible only with pointers.

Box 12.2 Dos and Don'ts of Pointers

• Do not use pointer for simple/trivial tasks. ...