The problem that pointers are designed to solve in programming languages is that sometimes when variables are passed into various functions, classes, or objects, a copy of the variable is created and passed along instead of the actual variable. This can create irregularities in the program. Pointers solve this problem by passing the memory address of the variable instead of the variable itself, ensuring that the actual value is always passed on.
To create a pointer in a programming language, you can use an asterisk or multiplication sign before the variable name to indicate that it is a pointer. The default value of a pointer is nil. For example, if you create a pointer without assigning a value to it, its value will be nil.