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Golang - Asterisk and Ampersand Cheatsheet
/*
********************************************************************************
Golang - Asterisk and Ampersand Cheatsheet
********************************************************************************
Also available at: https://play.golang.org/p/lNpnS9j1ma
Allowed:
--------
p := Person{"Steve", 28} stores the value
p := &Person{"Steve", 28} stores the pointer address (reference)
PrintPerson(p) passes either the value or pointer address (reference)
PrintPerson(*p) passes the value
PrintPerson(&p) passes the pointer address (reference)
func PrintPerson(p Person) ONLY receives the value
func PrintPerson(p *Person) ONLY receives the pointer address (reference)
Not Allowed:
--------
p := *Person{"Steve", 28} illegal
func PrintPerson(p &Person) illegal
*/
package main
import (
"fmt"
)
type Person struct {
Name string
Age int
}
// This only works with *Person, does not work with Person
// Only works with Test 2 and Test 3
func (p *Person) String() string {
return fmt.Sprintf("%s is %d", p.Name, p.Age)
}
// This works with both *Person and Person, BUT you can't modiy the value and
// it takes up more space
// Works with Test 1, Test 2, Test 3, and Test 4
/*func (p Person) String() string {
return fmt.Sprintf("%s is %d", p.Name, p.Age)
}*/
// *****************************************************************************
// Test 1 - Pass by Value
// *****************************************************************************
func test1() {
p := Person{"Steve", 28}
printPerson1(p)
updatePerson1(p)
printPerson1(p)
}
func updatePerson1(p Person) {
p.Age = 32
printPerson1(p)
}
func printPerson1(p Person) {
fmt.Printf("String: %v | Name: %v | Age: %d\n",
p,
p.Name,
p.Age)
}
// *****************************************************************************
// Test 2 - Pass by Reference
// *****************************************************************************
func test2() {
p := &Person{"Steve", 28}
printPerson2(p)
updatePerson2(p)
printPerson2(p)
}
func updatePerson2(p *Person) {
p.Age = 32
printPerson2(p)
}
func printPerson2(p *Person) {
fmt.Printf("String: %v | Name: %v | Age: %d\n",
p,
p.Name,
p.Age)
}
// *****************************************************************************
// Test 3 - Pass by Reference (requires more typing)
// *****************************************************************************
func test3() {
p := Person{"Steve", 28}
printPerson3(&p)
updatePerson3(&p)
printPerson3(&p)
}
func updatePerson3(p *Person) {
p.Age = 32
printPerson3(p)
}
func printPerson3(p *Person) {
fmt.Printf("String: %v | Name: %v | Age: %d\n",
p,
p.Name,
p.Age)
}
// *****************************************************************************
// Test 4 - Pass by Value (requires more typing)
// *****************************************************************************
func test4() {
p := &Person{"Steve", 28}
printPerson4(*p)
updatePerson4(*p)
printPerson4(*p)
}
func updatePerson4(p Person) {
p.Age = 32
printPerson4(p)
}
func printPerson4(p Person) {
fmt.Printf("String: %v | Name: %v | Age: %d\n",
p,
p.Name,
p.Age)
}
// *****************************************************************************
// Main
// *****************************************************************************
/*
Outputs:
String: {Steve 28} | Name: Steve | Age: 28
String: {Steve 32} | Name: Steve | Age: 32
String: {Steve 28} | Name: Steve | Age: 28
String: Steve is 28 | Name: Steve | Age: 28
String: Steve is 32 | Name: Steve | Age: 32
String: Steve is 32 | Name: Steve | Age: 32
String: Steve is 28 | Name: Steve | Age: 28
String: Steve is 32 | Name: Steve | Age: 32
String: Steve is 32 | Name: Steve | Age: 32
String: {Steve 28} | Name: Steve | Age: 28
String: {Steve 32} | Name: Steve | Age: 32
String: {Steve 28} | Name: Steve | Age: 28
*/
func main() {
test1()
test2()
test3()
test4()
}
@RoughChopTom
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Thanks!

@117
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117 commented Mar 19, 2019

thx

@okcthulhu
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Good stuff.

@tab0r
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tab0r commented Jul 16, 2019

Thank you!

@Ardiantirta
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Awesome!

@carlos-menezes
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Thank you!

@DanazSdiq
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Thank you!

@erpel
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erpel commented Jul 29, 2020

Just to clarify, in line 43 "it takes up more space" means calling a method like this during runtime uses more memory?

@josephspurrier
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Author

@erpel nah, it just requires more characters to type.

@hopik007
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hopik007 commented Apr 8, 2021

awsome !!!

@ViktorReib
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easy to understand, thanks!

@stankud
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stankud commented Oct 9, 2021

This is probably the best explanation on this topic on the internet

@josephspurrier
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Author

This is probably the best explanation on this topic on the internet

@stankud Wonderful to hear, thanks!

@sohhamm
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sohhamm commented Feb 12, 2022

Thanks!

@viniciusao
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I was in doubt about the asterisk at function's parameters. Simple and direct explanation, thanks!

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