c++ - compiler error saying invalid initialization of reference of type something& from expression of type something*

Question

I have a function prototype like

test(something &)

and i am doing

something *ss = new something();

and i say

test(ss)

compiler complains saying initialization of reference of type something& from expression something * .

but isn't that new returns the address and ss must point to that address ! so if test is expecting a reference is not it ss represents a reference ?

Answer 1

Your function expects a normal something object. You don't need to use a pointer here:

something ss;

test(ss);

When your function signature looks like f(T&), it means that it accepts a reference to a T object. When the signature is f(T*), it means that it accepts a pointer to a T object.