How to use pointers in Go

Go, a statically typed and compiled programming language developed by Google, has gained significant popularity among developers, as evidenced by surveys from HackerEarth and Stack Overflow. A key feature of Go is its use of pointers, which are essential for understanding how data is passed in functions. Unlike other languages where arguments can be passed by reference, Go passes them by value, meaning the data is copied rather than referenced, unless using pointers. Pointers allow developers to directly manipulate memory addresses, making it possible to alter the original data within functions. The use of the ampersand (&) and asterisk (*) operators in Go enables referencing and dereferencing memory addresses, which is crucial for modifying data in place. While pointers can be beneficial for certain use cases by reducing memory overhead, they can also introduce complexities, such as the need for escape analysis and potential performance overheads when used extensively. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding when to use pointers, assessing performance implications, and adhering to best practices within a codebase to effectively utilize pointers in Go projects.