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Chapter 6: Problem 3

When a variable is said to reference an object, what is actually stored in the variable?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The memory address of the object (the reference) is stored in the variable when it references an object.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Variables

Variables in programming languages are like labels or names that are used to store and manipulate data. Variables can hold different types of data, such as numbers, text, and objects. In this context, when a variable is said to reference an object, it means that the variable is linked to an object, but does not directly store the object itself.
02

Understand References

A reference is a value that enables a program to indirectly access a particular memory location, where the actual data (an object in this case) is stored. References are commonly used to link variables to objects, as they allow the program to manipulate the objects through the variables. The actual data stored in the variable is the memory address of the object, not the object itself.
03

Understand Objects

An object is an instance of a class, which is a blueprint or a template defining properties and methods for a particular type of data. In object-oriented languages, objects are generally stored in the computer's memory, with a unique memory address for each object. The actual data and properties of the object are stored in these memory locations.
04

Connect Variables, References, and Objects

So when a variable is said to reference an object, the variable holds a reference value - which is the memory address where the object is stored. This allows the program to use the variable to access the object and manipulate its properties and methods indirectly. Remember, the variable itself does not directly store the object, but instead stores the reference that points to the memory location containing the object. Therefore, when a variable references an object, what is actually stored in the variable is the memory address of the object (the reference).

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Assume that limo is a variable that references an instance of the class shown in Figure \(6-16 .\) Write a statement that calls setMake and passes the argument "cadillac".

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