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C++`Returning Pointers from Functions`

In the previous chapter, we have learned how to return arrays from functions in C++. Similarly, C++ allows you to return pointers from functions. To do this, you must declare a function that returns a pointer, as shown below:

int * myFunction()
{
.
.
.
}

Additionally, C++ does not support returning the address of a local variable outside the function unless the local variable is defined as a static variable.

Now, let's look at the following function, which generates 10 random numbers and returns them using the array name that represents the pointer (i.e., the address of the first array element), as follows:

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <ctime>
#include <cstdlib>
 
using namespace std;
 
// Function to generate and return random numbers
int * getRandom()
{
  static int r[10];
 
  // Set the seed
  srand((unsigned)time(NULL));
  for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i)
  {
    r[i] = rand();
    cout << r[i] << endl;
  }
 
  return r;
}
 
// Main function to call the above defined function
int main()
{
   // A pointer to an integer
   int *p;
 
   p = getRandom();
   for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
   {
       cout << "*(p + " << i << ") : ";
       cout << *(p + i) << endl;
   }
 
   return 0;
}

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result:

624723190
1468735695
807113585
976495677
613357504
1377296355
1530315259
1778906708
1820354158
667126415
*(p + 0) : 624723190
*(p + 1) : 1468735695
*(p + 2) : 807113585
*(p + 3) : 976495677
*(p + 4) : 613357504
*(p + 5) : 1377296355
*(p + 6) : 1530315259
*(p + 7) : 1778906708
*(p + 8) : 1820354158
*(p + 9) : 667126415

C++ Pointers

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C++Returning Pointers from Functions

Example

C++`Returning Pointers from Functions`