What is pointer?

A pointer is a variable in computer programming that stores the memory address of another variable or object in the system. Pointers are commonly used in programming languages such as C, C++, and Java, and are often used to pass data between functions, allocate memory dynamically, and manipulate data structures such as arrays and linked lists.

The value of a pointer is typically represented as a hexadecimal number that corresponds to the memory location in the system where the variable or object is stored. Pointers can be declared using the asterisk (*) operator, and can be used to update the value of the variable or object to which they point.

However, pointers can be tricky to use correctly and can lead to bugs and security vulnerabilities if used improperly. This is because pointers can be used to access and modify any memory location in the system, which can be dangerous if the pointer is not properly initialized or if it is used to access memory that has not been allocated.