Pointer can refer NULL, refernce cannot be NULL. Pointer can derefernce to another address, Reference once initialized stays that way till it dies. pointer may not associate with a legitimate memory but References should associate with certain memory.

Pointers are flexibles and references are not , because pointer can point from one location to another but references not.

Pointers can point to the null but references can not be a null.

we can assign pointer after creating it or later. but refences needs to be initialized at the time of creation.

1. Pointer can refer NULL, refernce cannot be NULL
2. Pointer can derefernce to another address, Reference 
once initialized stays that way till it dies.
3. pointer may not associate with a legitimate memory but 
References should associate with certain memory.
4. pointer may not be initialized while created but 
refernce has to intialized when it is created.