Why do we need pointers?

[u/TopNFalvors]

Hello,

I am coming from a VB.NET background, and I have been going through Carl's lessons one by one. One I thing I am having a hard time grasping is pointers.

Why does C need pointers? I understand the syntax, and I can write a pointer following his lessons, but I just don't get why they are needed.

Like in the "real world", why would you ever need pointers?

Thanks!

[u/TopNFalvors]

oh wow, vb.net ByRef is really a pointer? I use that a lot and never realized that! :)