Reference

A reference is a way for a program to access data or objects indirectly, rather than by copying them. Think of it as a pointer or a handle that points to a location in memory where the actual data resides. When you use a reference, you are working with the original data, not a copy. This allows for efficient data manipulation and sharing between parts of a program. References help ensure consistency and save memory, making programs more efficient by avoiding unnecessary duplication of data.