What is the difference between Go's pointer arithmetic and pointer dereferencing in Go programs?

Question

Jayant Kumar · Accepted Answer

Table of contents
Introduction
Pointers in Go are powerful tools for managing memory efficiently, but understanding how they work is crucial for writing safe and effective code. Two common concepts related to pointers are pointer arithmetic and pointer dereferencing. While Go handles pointers differently from languages like C or C++, it is essential to know what these terms mean and how they apply in Go programming. This guide explores the difference between pointer arithmetic and pointer dereferencing in Go.
Differences Between Pointer Arithmetic and Pointer Dereferencing
Pointer Dereferencing in Go
Pointer dereferencing in Go refers to accessing the value stored at the memory address pointed to by a pointer. This is done using the * operator. Dereferencing a pointer allows you to read or modify the value that the pointer references.

Example:
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    x := 10
    p := &#x26;x  // p is a pointer to x
    fmt.Println(*p) // Dereference p to get the value of x (Output: 10)

*p = 20  // Modify the value at the memory address
    fmt.Println(x)  // x is now 20
}

In this example, *p is used to dereference the pointer p to access and modify the value of x.
 Pointer Arithmetic in Go
Pointer arithmetic involves performing operations like addition or subtraction directly on memory addresses, which can be common in languages like C or C++. However, Go does not support pointer arithmetic. This decision is in line with Go’s design philosophy to promote safety, simplicity, and readability in code. Allowing pointer arithmetic could lead to unsafe code by enabling out-of-bounds memory access or accidental modification of unintended memory locations.
While Go does not support direct pointer arithmetic, you can manipulate slices, which are safer abstractions that provide controlled access to underlying arrays. Additionally, the unsafe package in Go provides some lower-level operations, but it is generally discouraged unless absolutely necessary.
Practical Examples of Pointer Dereferencing in Go

Example: Modifying Struct Fields with Pointers
package main

import "fmt"

type Person struct {
    name string
    age  int
}

func main() {
    person := Person{"Alice", 30}
    p := &#x26;person

fmt.Println(p.name)  // Access struct field via pointer
    fmt.Println((*p).age)  // Explicit dereferencing to access the field

p.age = 31  // Modify field via pointer
    fmt.Println(person.age) // Updated age (Output: 31)
}

Go provides a convenient way to access struct fields directly using pointers, making pointer dereferencing simpler and more readable.
Conclusion
Go supports pointer dereferencing to access or modify the value stored at a memory location but does not allow pointer arithmetic. This approach aligns with Go's focus on simplicity and safety by preventing unsafe memory operations. Understanding these differences is key to effective memory management and writing robust Go programs. Use pointer dereferencing to work with pointers safely, and rely on Go's built-in mechanisms like slices for safer memory manipulation.
By understanding these concepts, you can use pointers effectively in Go, ensuring efficient memory usage without compromising code safety or readability.

What is the difference between Go's pointer arithmetic and pointer dereferencing in Go programs?

Table of contents

Introduction

Differences Between Pointer Arithmetic and Pointer Dereferencing

Pointer Dereferencing in Go

Pointer Arithmetic in Go

Practical Examples of Pointer Dereferencing in Go

Conclusion

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