dereference
Retrieve pointed value
Dereference is a computing term meaning to access the value stored at a memory address.
A pointer holds an address; dereferencing it retrieves what's actually there.
The concept is fundamental in languages like C and C++: Dereferencing a null pointer crashes the program.
The term occasionally appears metaphorically for following any kind of reference to reach its target.
Speak to formally
- indirectionRoundabout method or approach
- pointerReference to memory location
- nullAbsence indicator in code
- segfaultInvalid memory access error
memory · variable · offset · asterisk · dangling · subscript
Importance or price
- readComprehend written language
- writeForm text on surface
- fetchGo get and return
- loadCarried weight or burden
store · lookup · resolve · retrieve · extract · obtain · field · property
Speak to formally
- locationPosition in space
- heapJumbled collection of items
- stackItems piled vertically
- allocationDistribution of shares
RAM · cache · register · buffer · virtual · physical · segment · block
address
Speak to formally
- indirectionRoundabout method or approach
- pointerReference to memory location
- nullAbsence indicator in code
segfault · memory · variable · offset · asterisk · dangling · subscript
value
Importance or price
load · store · lookup · resolve · retrieve · extract · obtain · field · property · attribute
address
Speak to formally
allocation · RAM · cache · register · buffer · virtual · physical · segment · block · cell
instance
Single occurrence of something
attribute · field · handle · proxy · wrapper · getter · binding · resolution · chaining · traversal
nil
Nothing whatsoever
- voidWithout legal effect
- undefinedNot clearly delineated
- uninitializedNot given initial value