both are the same concept the java object reference and c++ 
pointer.the object reference stored in the memory heap and 
object are stored in stack.
Pointer are locate the address of the variables and object 
reference locate the value of the variables.

The above answer is wrong; Objects are stored on heap; 
Refrence contains the way to reach out to the object.
pointers point to the location where a primitive type is 
stored.

Both have same purpose,becoz both point some memory location
,they hold the address of that location.Java  reference
variable point the memory location of an object whereas C++
ponter point the memory location of any primitive type of
data type.