What is the difference between pointers and values in Go?

What is the difference between pointers and values in Go?

In Go, a value is a direct representation of data, while a pointer holds the memory address of a value.

Can you give me an example of how pointers work in Go?

Sure! If you have a variable x := 10, you can create a pointer to it using p := &x. Now p points to the memory address of x.

Why would I use pointers instead of values?

Pointers are useful for modifying the original data without copying it, which can save memory and improve performance.

Are there any downsides to using pointers?

Yes, pointers can lead to complexity and bugs like nil pointer dereferences if not handled carefully.