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Reference.org
Function pointer
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<p> A function pointer, also called a subroutine pointer or procedure pointer, is a <a href="/facts/Pointer_(computer_programming)/fPoNzy9b">pointer</a> referencing executable code, rather than data. <a href="/facts/Dereference_operator/HnG6rwyG">Dereferencing</a> the function pointer yields the referenced <a href="/facts/Subroutine/9vFJrg0A">function</a>, which can be invoked and passed arguments just as in a normal function call. Such an invocation is also known as an "indirect" call, because the function is being invoked <i>indirectly</i> through a variable instead of <i>directly</i> through a fixed identifier or address. </p><p>Function pointers allow different code to be executed at runtime. They can also be passed to a function to enable <a href="/facts/Callback_(computer_programming)/vPlrCJXG">callbacks</a>. </p><p>Function pointers are supported by <a href="/facts/Third-generation_programming_language/v6N8rpno">third-generation</a> <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming languages</a> (such as <a href="/facts/PL%2fI/469mVYgd">PL/I</a>, <a href="/facts/COBOL/wVnhqs0k">COBOL</a>, <a href="/facts/Fortran/m1KqjcMU">Fortran</a>, <a href="/facts/DBASE/9U0YCWEo">dBASE</a> dBL, and <a href="/facts/C_(programming_language)/Ky2No763">C</a>) and <a href="/facts/Object-oriented_programming/TxNMEcao">object-oriented programming</a> languages (such as <a href="/facts/C%252B%252B/Et0F2qn9">C++</a>, <a href="/facts/C_Sharp_(programming_language)/UC2gxeyb">C#</a>, and <a href="/facts/D_(programming_language)/4qIzRjkF">D</a>). </p>