> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Dereferencing a pointer
> This article explores how to dereference pointers in Go and access or modify the values stored in memory addresses.
In this article, we explore how to dereference pointers in Go. Dereferencing a pointer means accessing the value stored in the memory address that the pointer holds.
By placing the dereference operator (an asterisk) before a pointer, you gain access to the value stored in the pointer’s referenced memory location. Moreover, you can modify the value by using the dereference operator in an assignment.
## Basic Syntax
To read and modify the value of the variable pointed to by a pointer, use the following syntax:
```plaintext theme={null}
*
* =
```
## Example 1: Simple Dereferencing
Consider this example where we have a variable `x` holding a numeric value and a pointer `ptr` that stores the address of `x`:
```plaintext theme={null}
x := 77
var ptr *int := &x
```
Here, the pointer `ptr` stores an address (e.g., 0x0301). When we dereference `ptr` and assign a new value, `x` is updated accordingly:
```go theme={null}
x := 77
var ptr *int = &x
*ptr = 100
```
## Example 2: Practical Pointer Dereferencing in Go
This Go program demonstrates a practical application of pointer dereferencing using a string variable. Initially, the string variable `s` is set to "hello". We then create a pointer `ps` (using the shorthand operator) to store the address of `s`. By dereferencing `ps`, we update the value of `s` from "hello" to "world". The program prints the type and the updated value of `s`.
```go theme={null}
package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
s := "hello"
fmt.Printf("%T %v\n", s, s)
ps := &s
*ps = "world"
fmt.Printf("%T %v\n", s, s)
}
```
When you run this program, the output will be:
```plaintext theme={null}
>>> go run main.go
string hello
string world
```
Regular practice of these examples in your Go development environment will help reinforce your understanding of pointer dereferencing.
That concludes our guide on dereferencing pointers in Go. To further enhance your skills, be sure to explore additional concepts in the [Go Documentation](https://golang.org/doc/).