Difference Between Reference Sign After Data Type or Before Variable Name?

Question

I was wondering is there is a difference when referencing a variable, where the 'reference sign' goes?

such as...

vector<int>& v;
vector<int> &v;

Is there a difference at all, or is it really just preference?

Answer 1

It's totally preference, but I like to keep the & next to the type when I'm declaring a variable or specifying a parameter. That way, when I'm referencing a variable and use &my_variable, I know just by looking at it that it's a variable reference and has nothing to do with a declaration. I do the same thing with pointers. I declare them int* ptr; so that way when I see *ptr I know it's just dereferencing it.

Answer 2

Totally preference, it's the only order that's important.