Difference between a java object reference and c++ pointer

Difference between a java object reference and C++ pointer.

- The prime difference is that pointers are to locate the address of the primitive variables only, where as object reference locates the object in the heap.

- The java object reference are much closer to the C++ pointers.

An object reference in Java can do the following:

1. It can change the object which it refers to.
2. It can check if two references are equal or not.
3. It can send messages to the referenced object.

- In C++ the pointers have the same property. Hence, we can say that there is not much of a difference between the java object reference and a C++ pointer.