From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG  Sat Feb 19 23:17:36 2005
Return-Path: <owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>
Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125])
	by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3144316A4CE
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Sat, 19 Feb 2005 23:17:36 +0000 (GMT)
Received: from smtp11.wanadoo.fr (smtp11.wanadoo.fr [193.252.22.31])
	by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D953443D3F
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Sat, 19 Feb 2005 23:17:35 +0000 (GMT)
	(envelope-from atkielski.anthony@wanadoo.fr)
Received: from me-wanadoo.net (localhost [127.0.0.1])
	by mwinf1103.wanadoo.fr (SMTP Server) with ESMTP id 98D4C1C00084
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Sun, 20 Feb 2005 00:17:34 +0100 (CET)
Received: from pix.atkielski.com (ASt-Lambert-111-2-1-3.w81-50.abo.wanadoo.fr
	[81.50.80.3])
	by mwinf1103.wanadoo.fr (SMTP Server) with ESMTP id 7B70B1C00082
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Sun, 20 Feb 2005 00:17:34 +0100 (CET)
X-ME-UUID: 20050219231734505.7B70B1C00082@mwinf1103.wanadoo.fr
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2005 00:17:31 +0100
From: Anthony Atkielski <atkielski.anthony@wanadoo.fr>
X-Priority: 3 (Normal)
Message-ID: <675354920.20050220001731@wanadoo.fr>
To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
In-Reply-To: <ef60af0905021915074e5d2929@mail.gmail.com>
References: <ef60af09050219015116024f83@mail.gmail.com>
 <5b8472dd5925a0b0b59f15cd9f8e15f3@shire.net>
 <ef60af0905021915074e5d2929@mail.gmail.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Subject: Re: c++
X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1
Precedence: list
Reply-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
List-Id: User questions <freebsd-questions.freebsd.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>,
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions>
List-Post: <mailto:freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
List-Help: <mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>,
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=subscribe>
X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 23:17:36 -0000

Gert Cuykens writes:

> What does coercing mean ?

Telling the compiler to disregard mismatches between data types.
Normally, if you put an integer in a program where a character pointer
is required, the compiler will complain.  If you use a cast to coerce
the type of the integer to a character pointer, the compiler will let it
pass, and will treat the integer as a pointer (whether it really
contains a pointer or not).

> Why does the compiler have to match parameters ?

To help avoid errors in coding, the compiler makes sure that the type of
a variable matches what is expected in certain situations.

> PS what is the difference between ?
>  A=*data

The contents of the memory location pointed to by data is copied to A.

>  A=data

The value of data is copied to A.

>  A=&data

The address in memory of data is copied to A.

-- 
Anthony