A function argument can be passed by copy, reference or pointer.


void f(T  t); //t is a copy of the value passed

void f(T &t); //t is the value passed

void f(T* t); //t is a pointer to the value passed passed

When a function argument is passed by reference, the function can modify the original variable.


#include <cassert>



void swap(int& x, int& y)

{

  const int temp = x;

  x = y;

  y = temp;

}



int main()

{

  int value1 = 1;

  int value2 = 2;

  swap(value1,value2);

  assert(value1==2);

  assert(value2==1);

}

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