Short pointers are used for more efficient utilization of random access memory (RAM) in resource-constrained embedded systems. Such a system includes a processor having an address space; and a RAM that stores variables used by the processor, including pointer variables. The processor has X-bit architecture, and a standard C/C++ (native) pointer variable occupies X bits in RAM. In such a system, select pointers are stored in RAM in a form of short pointer variables as respective Y-bit segments, instead of as standard C/C++ pointer variables that would be stored as X-bit segments, where Y is less than X. Select short pointers are converted to respective native pointers to perform an operation in the memory system for which pointers are used. After the operation is performed, each native pointer is converted back to the corresponding short pointer and stored in the RAM.