xPtr *int – xPtr is a pointer to an int

*xPtr – “*” is the dereference operator, yields the value pointed to by xPtr

Given: x:=5 , then &x – returns a *int a “pointer to an int”

new() – Takes a type as an arguement and allocates enough memory to hold a value of that type and returns a pointer

Its easy to get confused on the difference between new() and make() in Golang

new()

• allocates memory and “zeros” it.
• That is new(T) allocates zeroed storage for a new item of type T and returns its address a value of type *T
• Said more succintly “It returns a pointer to a newly allocated zero value of type T”

make(T, args)

• can create slices, maps and channels only
• returns “initialized” but not “zeroed” value of type T (not *T)
• to obtain a pointer allocate with new or take the address of a variable explicitly