Definition of "dereference" in English

verb

1. (programming) To access the value or object located in a memory location addressed by a pointer or another value interpreted as such; to access a value being referenced by something else.

   • Attempting to dereference a null pointer often results in a crash.

2. (computing, *nix) To operate on the file or directory pointed to by a symbolic link, rather than on the link itself.

   • With the find command, any symbolic links appearing after -follow will be dereferenced.

3. (computing, *nix) To dissolve a symbolic link by replacing it with a copy of its target.

noun

1. The act by which something is dereferenced.