**`Pointers`** are variables that store the memory address of another variable. In Pascal, a `pointer` is declared as:
```c
_variableName_ = ^_addressedType_;
```
* `_variableName_`: The variable name identifying the pointer.
* `_addressedType_`: The data type of the variable whose memory address is stored in `_variableName_`.

# Assigning a memory address to a pointer
To assign a memory address of a variable to a pointer, use the `@` operator or `addr()` function to reference the variable as shown below:
```c
_ptr_ := @_variable_;
```
Or:
```c
_ptr_ := addr(_variable_);
```
`@_variable_` stores the memory location of `_variable_` in `_ptr_`.


# Dereferencing a pointer
**Dereferencing a pointer** means accessing the data pointed by the pointer. To dereference a pointer in Pascal, use the `^` operator as shown below:
```C
_pointedData_ := _pointer_^;
``` 

# Examples
## Example 1
Consider the code snippet below, which demonstrates the declaration of `pointers`:


program pointerExample1;
{$TYPEDADDRESS ON}
var 
  num1: Integer = 10;
  ptrnum: ^Integer;
begin
  ptrnum := @num1;
  writeln(ptrnum^);
end.

pascal

## Explanation
A pointer `ptrnum` is declared in *line 5*. `ptrnum` is pointed to a variable `num1` that is declared in *line 4* using the `@` operator. Dereferencing `ptrnum` in *line 8* prints the same value stored in `num1` as the pointer pointed to `num1`.

## Example 2
Consider another example that uses `addr()` to assign a memory address to the pointer:

program pointerExample2;
{$TYPEDADDRESS ON}
var 
  num1: Integer = 10;
  ptrnum: ^Integer;
begin
  ptrnum := nil;
  ptrnum := addr(num1);
  writeln(ptrnum^);
end.

## Explanation
A pointer `ptrnum` is declared in *line 5*. `ptrnum` is pointed to a variable `num1` that is declared in *line 4* using `addr()`. Dereferencing `ptrnum` in *line 8* prints the same value stored in `num1` as the pointer pointed to `num1`.


pascal.tar.gz

How to declare pointers in Pascal

Pointers store memory addresses in Pascal. Declare them with ^ and assign addresses using @ or addr(). Dereference using ^ to access data.