C++ different behavior between reference and pointer to interface -

i trying write interface variable value. base class provides enum field, type of variable stored (like int, char, etc...) , virtual functions. classes inheriting interface should implement representation of variable type each.

#include <iostream>  enum type {     int, char };  class var {     type type; public:     var(type t):         type(t)     {}     virtual void printvalue()     {         std::cout << "-\n";     }     virtual void printtype()     {         std::cout << type << std::endl;     } };  class intvar : public var {     int value; public:     intvar(int i):         var(int),         value(i)     {}     void printvalue()     {         std::cout << value << std::endl;     } };  class charvar : public var {     char value; public:     charvar(char c):         var(char),         value(c)     {}     void printvalue()     {         std::cout << value << std::endl;     } }; 

then tried this:

var* np = new intvar(1);  np->printtype(); np->printvalue(); np = new charvar('a'); np->printtype(); np->printvalue(); 

the output was

0 (type::int), 1, 1 (type::char), a

so worked expected, when tried same references, outcome bit strange.

var& nr = *(new intvar(1)); nr.printtype(); nr.printvalue(); nr = *(new charvar('a')); nr.printtype(); nr.printvalue(); 

here output

0 (type::int), 1, 1 (type::char) , 1

why did code work, when using pointers , didn't work references? or overlook obvious errors?

the solution using pointers makes nr point intvar @ first, , charvar.

the solution using references creates intvar object, creates new name (nr) object , changes values of object based on values of charvar.

references cannot rebased did pointers. reference references same object throughout lifetime.