How can I change the variable to which a C++ reference refers?

Question

If I have this:

int a = 2;
int b = 4;
int &ref = a;

How can I make ref refer to b after this code?

Answer 1

That's not possible in the way you want. C++ just doesn't let you rebind what a reference points to.

However if you want to use trickery you can almost simulate it with a new scope (NEVER do this in a real program):

int a = 2;
int b = 4;
int &ref = a;

{
    int& ref = b; // Shadows the original ref so everything inside this { } refers to `ref` as `b` now.
}