ref
https://getrefnotes.almoheet-travel.com/why-every-fighting-game-player-should-learn-to-ref
Ref is just shorthand for reference—like when you're citing a book, noting a source, or pointing someone to a previous email or document. In coding, it's a pointer to a variable or memory location. Either way, it saves you from repeating the whole thing every time. Think of it as a shortcut that says, 'you know that thing we talked about? That one right there.' It's not flashy, but once you start using it, you'll wonder how you ever got by without it.