what is dereferencing ?

Answer 1

To access the value pointed by a pointer, you have to dereference it first with *.

int foo = 42;
int* p = &foo;
cout << *p << endl; //Here we dereference p and print the value pointed, 42.

Answer 2

prateek nandwana, I think DEFERENCE means simply asterisk ( star ) (*) applying to variable. ( Creating a POINTER variable. )

For example.,

int sad; // is a variable.
/*
If i apply the asterisk to variable; that is "sad" it means i DEFERENCE the "sad" variable. In other words i create a pointer variable. */

*sad = NULL; // THIS IS A DEREFERENCING.

I Hope you will understand.🙏👍✔️