[fpc-pascal] Why use pointers to arrays?

["Vinzent Höfler"]

Andrew Brunner <andrew.t.brunner at gmail.com>:

> 1st benefit:
> 
> declaring methods associated with classes before TIntArray needs to be
> defined or declared.
>   eg. procedure DoSomething(Var Data:TIntArray); vs (DataP:PIntArray);

Huh? Is there any difference other than the second one can take a NIL value?

> Lastly, passing by reference rather than by value is much faster.

That's what "const" has been invented for: Letting the compiler decide the most efficient way.

Not to mention, expressing your intent:

You don't change it, say so: "const".
You change it,       say so: "var".
You initialize it,   say so: "out".

If you just take the pointer no-one knows if the value is in/in out/or out. That's clearly not a "benefit".


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