C++ has an operator that can be used with a pointer to simplify the notation for

specifying the members of a struct or a class. The arrow operator , -> , combines

the actions of a dereferencing operator, * , and a dot operator to specify a member of

a dynamic struct or class object that is pointed to by a given pointer. For example,

suppose you have the following definition:

struct Record

{

int number;

char grade;

};

The following creates a dynamically allocated variable of type Record and sets the

member variables of the dynamic struct variable to 2001 and 'A' .

Record *p;

p = new Record;

p->number = 2001;

p->grade = 'A';

The notations

p->grade

and

(*p).grade

have the same meaning. However, the first is more convenient and is almost always the

notation used.