What is the difference between the dot (.) operator and -> in C++? [duplicate]

Question

What is the difference between the dot (.) operator and -> in C++?

Answer 1

foo->bar() is the same as (*foo).bar().

The parenthesizes above are necessary because of the binding strength of the * and . operators.

*foo.bar() wouldn't work because Dot (.) operator is evaluated first (see operator precedence)

The Dot (.) operator can't be overloaded, arrow (->) operator can be overloaded.

The Dot (.) operator can't be applied to pointers.

Also see: What is the arrow operator (->) synonym for in C++?

Answer 2

For a pointer, we could just use

*pointervariable.foo 

But the . operator has greater precedence than the * operator, so . is evaluated first. So we need to force this with parenthesis:

(*pointervariable).foo 

But typing the ()'s all the time is hard, so they developed -> as a shortcut to say the same thing. If you are accessing a property of an object or object reference, use . If you are accessing a property of an object through a pointer, use ->