CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++cpointersreference
0x90
0x90

Reputation: 41022

How to define insert function of tree in correct manner in C++?

In C, if I have a tree or linked list, I have to declare a function for insertion like

insert(Node ** node)

so I can insert a new root/head.
My question is, how to write it with references in C++?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 148

Answers (2)

Kashyap
Kashyap

Reputation: 17546

As templatetypedef said. Or:

ReturnType insert(Node &node)

which is what I would prefer. I like to type . instead of -> (saves a char :))

Caller would of course have to ensure that he creates Node objects with proper scope or creates them using new.

Node notGood;
Node *goodPtr = new Node();

insert(notGood); //problem
insert(*goodPtr); //ok

Upvotes: 0

templatetypedef
templatetypedef

Reputation: 373462

You would write the function as

ReturnType insert(Node* &node)

That is, the parameter is a reference to the Node* variable holding the root of the tree. From there, you would proceed as usual, except that compared with the C version of the function you wouldn't need to dereference node to reassign the root For example, if you were to write the following in the initial (C) version of the code:

*node = /* ... something ... */

You would just write

node = /* ... something ... */

in the updated version of the code.

Hope this helps!

Upvotes: 1

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