Thread: Passing Variable-Length Array to a Function

Code:

int GetChar (int NumChar, int MaxNumChar [NumChar])
{

	printf("Please enter desired characters.\n");
	for (int i = 0; i < NumChar; i++)
		scanf("%c", &MaxNumChar[i]);

	return i;
}

I think I'm passing the array to the function wrong. What's the right way to do this and how do I return the characters read in this function back to main?

Are you really passing in a VLA to your function?

And even if you are, you don't have to specify the size of an array that is passed into a function, VLA or no VLA. So don't.

int GetChar (int NumChar, int MaxNumChar [NumChar])

An entire array is never passed into a function, only its address. So you can either pass that as a pointer or declare the function like this -

Code:

int GetChar (int NumChar, int MaxNumChar [])

which is pretty much the same as passing in an int *.

To pass the array, all you have to do is -

Code:

int myArray[4];
int GetChar(4,myArray);

referring to the name of an array without using square brackets returns the address of the array or better the address of the first element, which is equivalent to &myArry[0].

how do I return the characters read in this function back to main?

You cant return an array from a function either. Only its pointer. However, since arrays are passed using a pointer whatever changes you make inside the function will be made to the original array as well.

Originally Posted by Spidey

An entire array is never passed into a function, only its address. So you can either pass that as a pointer or declare the function like this -

Code:

int GetChar (int NumChar, int MaxNumChar [])

which is pretty much the same as passing in an int *.

To pass the array, all you have to do is -

Code:

int myArray[4];
int GetChar(4,myArray);

referring to the name of an array without using square brackets returns the address of the array or better the address of the first element, which is equivalent to &myArry[0].


You cant return an array from a function either. Only its pointer. However, since arrays are passed using a pointer whatever changes you make inside the function will be made to the original array as well.

Ok, that makes sense. I'm getting a syntax error where I declare the function though.

Code:

Array = GetChar (NumChar, MaxNumChar []);

Ok, that makes sense. I'm getting a syntax error where I declare the function though.

Code:
Array = GetChar (NumChar, MaxNumChar []);

What exactly are you trying to do here ? Thats not how you declare a function, its done like this -

Code:

int GetChar (int NumChar, int MaxNumChar []);

However, If your trying to assign the value to Array and if Array is an array then you cant assign it the value returned from GetChar in its current form as it returns an int.
Also, you call the function like this -

Code:

GetChar(4,Array);