What is the difference between declaring a variable and declaring a pointer?

Question

Hi guys,

I'm at learning about pointers in the C++ course, and I have the following question.

Code 1:
int main(){
int num = 42;

int *p = #

cout << *p;
}

Code 2:
int main(){
int num = 42;

int p = num;

cout << p;
}

With both code syntaxes I get the same outcome, and they both store 42. I know the pointer is about storing the memory address, but I don't really see/get it. Can someone explain what it does, and what the fundamental difference between these codes are any further?

Thnx for the effort!

Answer 1

in Code 1, both num and p access the same memory location of 42. changing num affects p and changing p affects num.

in Code 2, p is just a copy of num. p will store 42 in a different memory location than the 42 of num. changing num will not affect p and changing p will not affect num.
https://sololearn.com/compiler-playground/ceBevf5CcqKY/?ref=app

Answer 2

Declaring a variable creates a temporray space whereas declaring a pointer locate content at a fixed address which can only accessed by pointer