# IDL_Pointer

The IDL_Pointer class contains static methods that are available for all IDL pointers. In addition, because IDL_Pointer is a subclass of IDL_Variable, all of the IDL_Variable methods are also available.

## Superclasses

IDL_Variable

### IDL_Pointer

- PtrType - Returns the variable type of the pointer's data.
- Valid - Returns the validity of its pointer arguments.

## Examples

# IDL_Pointer::PtrType

The IDL_Pointer::PtrType method returns the variable type of the pointer's data.

## Examples

Check the type of a variable a pointer points to:

p = PTR_NEW("my data")

PRINT, p.PtrType( )

IDL prints:

7

## Syntax

Result = var.PtrType( )

## Return Value

An integer specifying the data type. If var is an array then ::PtrType returns an array of types.

## Arguments

None.

## Keywords

None.

# IDL_Pointer::Valid

The IDL_Pointer::Valid method returns the validity of its pointer arguments.

## Examples

Check the validity of the pointer:

p = PTR_NEW(228l)

PRINT, p.Valid( )

IDL prints:

1

## Syntax

Result = var.Valid( )

## Return Value

A boolean value of 0 (false) or 1 (true).

## Arguments

None.

## Keywords

None.

## Version History

8.4 | Introduced

## See Also

Static Methods and Attributes, Variable Attributes, IDL_Integer, IDL_Number, IDL_String, IDL_Variable