12.7 The @ operator

The address operator @ returns the address of a variable, procedure or function. It is used as follows:

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Address factor


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The @ operator returns a typed pointer if the $T switch is on. If the $T switch is off then the address operator returns an untyped pointer, which is assignment compatible with all pointer types. The type of the pointer is ^T, where T is the type of the variable reference. For example, the following will compile

Program tcast;
{$T-} { @ returns untyped pointer }

Type art = Array[1..100] of byte;
Var Buffer : longint;
    PLargeBuffer : ^art;

begin
 PLargeBuffer := @Buffer;
end.

Changing the {$T-} to {$T+} will prevent the compiler from compiling this. It will give a type mismatch error.

By default, the address operator returns an untyped pointer: applying the address operator to a function, method, or procedure identifier will give a pointer to the entry point of that function. The result is an untyped pointer.

This means that the following will work:

Procedure MyProc;

begin
end;

Var
  P : PChar;

begin
  P:=@MyProc;
end;

By default, the address operator must be used if a value must be assigned to a procedural type variable. This behavior can be avoided by using the -Mtp or -MDelphi switches, which result in a more compatible Delphi or Turbo Pascal syntax.