diff --git a/docs/contents/pointers.rst b/docs/contents/pointers.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9add4b8e32
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+++ b/docs/contents/pointers.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+NMODL "pointers"
+================
+
+Mechanisms can refer to values in other mechanisms, e.g. the sodium current
+``ina``. Therefore, it supports a notion of "pointer", called ``Datum``. A datum
+can store a pointer to a double, a stable pointer to a double, integers, or
+pointers to anything else.
+
+Integer Variables
+-----------------
+One important subset of Datum are pointers to RANGE variables. Meaning they are
+pointers to parameters in other mechanisms or pointers to the parameters
+associated with each node, e.g. the voltage. Since the storage of RANGE
+variable is controlled by NEURON/CoreNEURON, these pointers have stronger
+semantics than a ``double*``.
+
+These make up the majority of usecases for Datum; and are considered the
+well-mannered subset.
+
+In CoreNEURON this subset of Datums are treated differently for other Datums.
+Because CoreNEURON stores the values these Datums can point to in a single
+contiguous array of doubles, the "pointers" can be expressed as indices into
+this array.
+
+Therefore, this subset of Datums is referred to as "integer variables".
+
+In NEURON these pointers are a ``data_handle`` to the value they point to.
+Before the simulation phase they are "resolved" and a cache stores a list of
+``double*`` to the appropriate values. 
+
diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index 4a494781f7..8c5f5e07db 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ About NMODL
    :caption: Contents:
 
    contents/visitors
+   contents/pointers
 
 .. toctree::
    :maxdepth: 3