What are some examples of pointers in Go?

What are some examples of pointers in Go?

In Go, pointers are variables that store the memory address of another variable. For example, you can declare a pointer like this: var p *int.

Can you show me a complete example of using pointers?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

package main
import "fmt"

func main() {
    a := 58
    p := &a // p now holds the address of a
    fmt.Println(*p) // Dereferencing p to get the value of a
    *p = 100 // Changing the value of a through the pointer
    fmt.Println(a) // Now a is 100
}

What are the benefits of using pointers?

Pointers allow you to modify variables without copying them, which can save memory and improve performance, especially with large data structures.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid with pointers?

Yes, common mistakes include dereferencing a nil pointer, which causes a runtime panic, and forgetting to use the & operator when you need the address of a variable.