C++ 'this' pointer

In C++ programming language 'this' is a keyword, the value of 'this' pointer is the address of object in which the member function is called.

Type of 'this' pointer is "Class pointer" (or "Objet pointer") type - if there is a class named "Example" then, the type of 'this' pointer will be "Example*".

Its type may depends on member function declaration in which the 'this' pointer is used. If the member function is declared as const, volatile or const volatile - the type of 'this' pointer will be const Example*, volatile Example* or const volatile Example* respectively.
(Reference: http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2005/n1905.pdf)

Use of 'this' when local variables and class data members are same (while defining a member function)

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Number
{
	private:
		int a;
	public:
		void get_a(int a)
		{this->a=a;}
		void put_a()
		{cout<<"a= "<<a<<endl;}
};

int main()
{
	Number N;
	N.get_a(36);
	N.put_a();
	return 0;
}

    a= 36

Here, a is the local variable of member function get_a() and also class member data type. Statement this->a=a; copies the value of a (local variable) in the class data member a.

Use of ‘this’ to return the reference to the calling object

'this' pointer can be used to return the reference of current/calling object, here is an example where an object is being initialized with another object using parameterized constructor.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Number
{
	private:
		int a;
	public:
		//default constructor
		Number(){this->a=0;}
		//parameterized constructor
		Number (Number &n)
		{
			this->a=n.a;
		}
		void get_a(int a)
		{this->a=a;}
		void put_a()
		{cout<<"a= "<<a<<endl;}
		Number &set()
		{
			return *this;
		}
};

int main()
{
	Number N1;
	N1.get_a(36);
	cout<<"N1..."<<endl;
	N1.put_a();
	
	Number N2(N1.set());
	cout<<"N2..."<<endl;
	N2.put_a();
	return 0;
}

    N1...
    a= 36
    N2...
    a =36

Here, statement Number N2(N1.set()); is initializing the value of a of object N2 with the value of a of object N1.