This doesn't make any logical sense, but I just want to say: I love xkcd. Really loud. I LOVE XKCD!
For those who don't know, xkcd is a webcomic by Randall Munroe that brilliantly captures the intersection of math, science, programming, and life. It's smart, funny, and often hits way too close to home for programmers.
Today I'm sharing one of my favorite comics about pointers:
Pointers (XKCD #138)
Why This Comic Is Perfect
If you've ever tried to explain pointers in C or C++ to someone, you know the pain. Pointers are one of those concepts that seem simple in theory but confuse the hell out of beginners.
The comic shows a recursive definition: "A pointer is a variable that contains the address of another variable." And what does it point to? Another pointer definition. And that one? Another pointer. It's pointers all the way down.
This perfectly captures the circular, brain-melting nature of trying to understand pointers when you're first learning them. You look up what a pointer is, and the definition assumes you already understand pointers.
Why I Love xkcd
xkcd gets programmer humor in a way that few other comics do. Whether it's jokes about regular expressions, SQL injection, or the eternal struggle with off-by-one errors, Randall Munroe speaks our language.
It's not just programming either—xkcd covers physics, mathematics, relationships, and existential dread, often in the same comic. It's the comic strip that makes you laugh, then think, then laugh again because you finally got the joke.
If you're not reading xkcd regularly, you should be. It's required reading for anyone in tech. Last modified: 2026-01-15 WordPress ID: 533
