Let's trace the code execution:
1. int a = 10;`: An integer variablea` is created and initialized with the value 10.
2. int ptr = &a;`:
int ptr` declaresptr` as a pointer to an integer.
&a` is the address-of operator. It gets the memory address of the variablea`.
So, this line initializes the pointerptr` to hold the memory address ofa`.
3. cout << ptr;`:
ptr` by itself holds the address ofa`.
ptr` is the dereference operator. It accesses the value stored at the address thatptr` is pointing to.
Sinceptr` points toa`,ptr` is equivalent to the value ofa`.
The value ofa` is 10.
4. The program will print the value 10 to the console.