chase pointers

chase pointers


   1. vi. To go through multiple levels of indirection, as in traversing
   a linked list or graph structure. Used esp. by programmers in C, where
   explicit pointers are a very common data type. This is techspeak, but
   it remains jargon when used of human networks. "I'm chasing pointers.
   Bob said you could tell me who to talk to about...." See {dangling
   pointer} and {snap}.

   2. [Cambridge] pointer chase or pointer hunt: The process of going
   through a {core dump} (sense 1), interactively or on a large piece of
   paper printed with hex {runes}, following dynamic data-structures.
   Used only in a debugging context.
    

chase pointers

   <programming> To determine a chain of memory locations where
   each location holds a pointer to the next, starting from some
   initial pointer, e.g.  traversing a {linked list} or other
   {graph} structure.  This may be performed by a computer
   executing a program or by a programmer going through a {core
   dump} or using a debugger.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (2006-05-06)