I encountered similar confusion in faculty members as an undergraduate. To resubmit what I wrote in a comment below: It's confusing that we use 'refer to' in

I encountered similar confusion in faculty members as an undergraduate. To resubmit what I wrote in a comment below: It's confusing that we use 'refer to' in two different senses. In Java, a reference-type variable 'refers to' an instance, but overwriting the variable does not impact the referred-to entity. In pass-by-reference, a parameter 'refers to' a variable, and overwriting does impact the referred-to entity. Perhaps we should instead say that in Java, a reference-type variable 'points to' an instance.