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> **Possible Duplicate:**  
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> [What are the differences between pointer variable and reference variable in C++?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/57483/what-are-the-differences-between-pointer-variable-and-reference-variable-in-c)  
> 
> [When to pass by reference and when to pass by pointer in C++?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3613065/when-to-pass-by-reference-and-when-to-pass-by-pointer-in-c) 
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Seems to me that a pointer is more flexible and basically the same as a reference. References can't be null, but what happens if you have a reference of a pointer that you then make null? Doesn't that case then negate the 'can't be null' advantage?. And is it really an advantage anyway?

Why not just always use pointers? (I'm genuinely asking, I honestly haven't made up my mind on this)