&value would be a pointer to that integer. Instead, it's using references, which also use the & character. References use different syntax, but they're like poi

&value would be a pointer to that integer. Instead, it's using references, which also use the & character. References use different syntax, but they're like pointers that can't be reassigned. Examples: int x = 0; int &r = x; r += 1; assert(x == 1); int y; r = y; // won't compile void inc(int &r) { r += 1; } int x = 0; inc(x); assert(x == 1); The equivalent using pointers, like in C: int x = 0; int *p = &x; *p += 1; assert(x == 1); int y; p = &y; void inc(int *p) { *p += 1; } int x = 0; inc(&x); assert(x == 1);