Re: Expressions versus the value they represent

David BL wrote:

>E.g. In C++
>
> int x = 10;
> int* p = &x;
>
>x is not a pointer. x is a variable that holds the value 10. p is a
>pointer variable that holds a pointer value.

Good point. (You must be a good pointer.)

Meanwhile, in Algol 68,

  INT x := 10

is a shorthand for

  REF INT x = LOC INT; x := 10

i.e. a variable is of type reference to integer (Algol 68 doesn't use the term 'pointer'.) This is because

  INT x = 10

defines a *constant* x with the value 10. (The original C doesn't have constants.) So Algol 68 essentially agrees with paul's terminology, except that it uses 'reference' for 'pointer'.

-- 
Reinier