---
title: "What is reference in c  ?"  
description: "What is reference in c  ?"  
author: "E E Cummings"  
published: 2013-06-13  
updated: 2013-06-14  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/1067/what-is-reference-in-c  
category: "visual c++"  
tags: ["visual c++"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is reference in c  ?

Hi All,\
What is "[reference](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/774/reference-what-does-this-error-mean-in-php)" terminology in [C++](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/745/array-in-c-plus-plus) language. Please described in a [simple words](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/161071/what-is-mongodb-and-explain-it-in-simple-words).\
Thanks in advance.

## Replies

### Reply by AVADHESH PATEL

A reference is an implicit pointer that for all intents and purposes acts like another name for a variable.There are three ways that a reference can be used.First a reference can be passed in to a function.Seconda reference can be returned by a function.Finally,an independent reference can be created.


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