Pointer question

[indigo]

Hello,
do c++ pointers point to absolute address (RAM address) or relative to where the program starts in memory? And what's the difference between pointer behavior in debug and release versions? Thanks.

[kbw]

do c++ pointers point to absolute address (RAM address) or relative to where the program starts in memory?

Pointers refer to the absolute address space (irrespective of where that is mapped).

And what's the difference between pointer behavior in debug and release versions?

Debug builds tend to have extra checks. Regard the Microsoft compilers and the heap, extra checking facilities are used to assist the detection of heap misuse. They incure a time/space cost. Release does not include these tests.

[Computergeek01]

I'll just leave these here:

Underlying Principles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_allocation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_memory_allocation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heap_(data_structure) <sort of helps understand some things>

Stuff To Watch Out For:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seg_fault
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heap_overflow

First Post In An Excellent Series By A Very Reputable Author:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2008/07/21/3092070.aspx