Pointer-Based Arrays

So far, we’ve used pointers to work with single values. But one of the most common and powerful uses of pointers in C++ is with arrays.

Let’s take a step back for a moment. In C++, when you create an array like int nums[5];, you’re asking the program to reserve space for 5 integers. This memory is stored on the stack, and the size must be known ahead of time when you write the code.

But what if you don’t know how many items you need until the program is running? Or what if the user should decide the size?

That’s where pointer-based arrays come in. You can use a pointer to create an array on the heap using new[], which gives you full control over the size and lifetime of the array.