return array position from function

**danieldcc** · 10-10-2011

Hey, I'm trying to return the position of the array so I can print the contents of a structure at that position, I run in to the problem of what if the array position is 0? This is a problem cause I also want to return 0 for false. How do I distinguish?

Code:

int find_jock(struct athlete players[], int jock, int top) {
 int i = 0, found = 1;

while (found == 1 && i < top) { 
  if (jock == players[i].rank) 
    return i;
     /* end if */
  i++; }
return 0;

Code:

display_jock(players[find_jock(players, 1, top)]);

**iceaway** · 10-10-2011

return -1 if it fails

**laserlight** · 10-10-2011

Originally Posted by danieldcc

Hey, I'm trying to return the position of the array so I can print the contents of a structure at that position, I run in to the problem of what if the array position is 0? This is a problem cause I also want to return 0 for false. How do I distinguish?

There are a few options available. For example:

Return a pointer to the element found, then use a null pointer to denote not found.
Return the index, but return the index one past the last index to denote not found.
Return the index, but return -1 to denote not found. (This works even if you are using size_t as the return type.)
Make use of an output parameter, e.g., a pointer to int. This could be set to denote found/not found, or set to "return" the index to the caller, depending on the design you prefer.

Thread: return array position from function

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

return array position from function

Similar Threads

How to return an array from a function

Can function return an array?

function return array

return array from function

Return an array from function