pass by reference

reference.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>

using buffer_type = std::unique_ptr<float[]>;

template< typename T > 
void print_2nd_val( T ptr )
{
    std::cout << ptr[1] << std::endl;
}
template void print_2nd_val( const buffer_type& );

int main()
{
    int N = 10; 
    buffer_type buf = std::make_unique< float[] >( N );
    for( int i = 0; i < N; i++ )
        buf[i] = float(i);

    const buffer_type& ref = buf;
    print_2nd_val( ref );
}