"reference variable" meaning in English

{
  "etymology_text": "reference + variable",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "reference variables",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "reference variable (plural reference variables)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Computing",
          "orig": "en:Computing",
          "parents": [
            "Technology",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "word": "external reference variable"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2003, Grant Palmer, Technical Java: Developing Scientific and Engineering Applications:",
          "text": "The value of a reference variable is the memory address at which the data associated with the object is stored.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A variable used for storing the address of another variable or structure, equivalent to a pointer."
      ],
      "id": "en-reference_variable-en-noun-vZzeOt9r",
      "links": [
        [
          "computing",
          "computing#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "address",
          "address"
        ],
        [
          "pointer",
          "pointer"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(computing) A variable used for storing the address of another variable or structure, equivalent to a pointer."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "reference variable"
}

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "external reference variable"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "reference + variable",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "reference variables",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "reference variable (plural reference variables)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English countable nouns",
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English lemmas",
        "English multiword terms",
        "English nouns",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Pages with 1 entry",
        "Pages with entries",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned",
        "en:Computing"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2003, Grant Palmer, Technical Java: Developing Scientific and Engineering Applications:",
          "text": "The value of a reference variable is the memory address at which the data associated with the object is stored.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A variable used for storing the address of another variable or structure, equivalent to a pointer."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "computing",
          "computing#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "address",
          "address"
        ],
        [
          "pointer",
          "pointer"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(computing) A variable used for storing the address of another variable or structure, equivalent to a pointer."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "reference variable"
}