python - What is the asterisk for in signal and slot connections? -

in python qt, i'm connecting qlistwidget signal slot, this:

qtcore.qobject.connect(self.mylist, qtcore.signal("itemclicked(qlistwidgetitem *)"), self.listeventhandler)

my question is: trailing asterisk in qlistwidgetitem * do?

a couple of bullet points explain (i'll try avoid c++ syntax):

pyqt python wrapper around qt, written in c++.
qt provides introspection classes inheriting qobject, using strings identify things. python has native introspection, c++ not.
the syntax used called "old-style signals , slots", uses c++ function signatures.
c++ has more types of variables python. in c++, variable can value, reference, or pointer. pointers have asterisk after type name.
qtcore.signal("itemclicked(qlistwidgetitem *)") refers qt signal called itemclicked has parameter pointer qlistwidgetitem, not item itself.

in c++, looks like:

 void itemclicked(qlistwidgetitem *item);

going strings introspection, identify signal or slot, drop void, ;, , variable name (item), leaving:

 itemclicked(qlistwidgetitem *)

wrap above in qtcore.signal() , pair of quotes , have:

qtcore.signal("itemclicked(qlistwidgetitem *)")

what pointer?
there number of questions this. here one number of analogies in answers simplify things you.

if old-style syntax, what's new style?
frodon bringing up. pyqt has more "pythonic" method of connecting signals slots, in format:

object.signalname.connect(otherobject.slotname)

in case:

self.mylist.itemclicked.connect(self.listeventhandler)

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