The term "dereference" in computer science is usually used in the same context as pointers. It describes the process of following a pointer to get to the data it is pointing or referring to. Thus it would be helpful to say something about pointers first.

Pointers exemplify the C and C++ programming languages. When a computer program runs it holds its internal data in "variables," and these variables reside somewhere in the computer's memory so it can get at them when it needs to. Computer memory is described in terms of "memory addresses" and the address of an area of memory identifies where it is, much like the address of a house tells the postman where to deliver letters; memory addresses, however, are numbered strictly in sequence starting from 0, and do not, of course, contain street names. Every variable has an address where it can be found; some...