Key Points

• Structures can help make programs less complicated, easier to understand, and easier to maintain.

• Whenever you consider using a structure, consider whether a class would work better.

• Pointers are error-prone. Protect yourself by using access routines or classes and defensive-programming practices.

• Avoid global variables, not just because they're dangerous, but because you can replace them with something better.

• If you can't avoid global variables, work with them through access routines. Access routines give you everything that global variables give you, and more.