pointer and iterator

[marcel]

If "x" is an iterator then "*x" returns a reference on the object pointed by the iterator and "x->" is a shortcut for "(*x).". This all has nothing to do with pointers. "*" is the dereference operator.

I was going to say that it has nothing to do with iterators, but only with pointers because dereferencing is strictly related to pointers.

[wysota]

I'd say you could dereference anything that is a reference to something else. By dereferencing a street address, you get the house object "pointed to" by the address Iterator is such an address (but not a pointer in strict sense).