I have read a lot of information online but still can't figure out how to return pointer pointer from function
I made small example
I want to get pointer from the function fp How to do that ?Code:#include <stdio.h> int* fp(void); void main() { int *p; p = fp(); printf("%d",*p); } int* fp(void) { int *q; return q; }
The problem is that the pointer is local to the function and will only be valid in that function.
Instead of "returning" a pointer it would be better to pass the pointer into the function.
Code:#include <stdio.h> void fp(int *value); int main(void) // The function main() returns an int, not void. { int use_meaningful_variable_names; fp(&use_meaningful_variable_names); printf("%d", use_meaningful_variable_names); } void fp(int *value) { *value = 10; }
Does it make any sense ?Originally Posted by jimblumberg
function pass integer pointer and return integer pointer
when function will execute it will give result that is memory address or pointer that I want to show how to get result of functionCode:#include <stdio.h> int* fp(int *value); int main(void) // The function main() returns an int, not void. { int use_meaningful_variable_names; fp(&use_meaningful_variable_names); printf("value - %d", use_meaningful_variable_names); } // function pass integer pointer and return integer pointer int* fp(int *value) { *value = 20; printf("value - %d \n", *value); printf("address of value - %p \n", value); return value; }
Last edited by skyr6546; 11-17-2019 at 11:01 PM.
You should read more about scopes in case you want to be returning pointers. You cannot be returning a local pointer as it remains on your stack only till the end of your function scope or things break. What you could do is allocate memory on the heap using new and return a pointer without worrying about scopes. You'd still have to deallocate using delete wherever you wish to stop having its dynamic extent.
Thank you for your help sir
Just realised this was posted on the C Programming section...
In this case you should be using malloc and free instead of new and delete. However, in general, the programmer shouldn't be spending time thinking about memory management. There are libraries that do a lot of things for you so that you worry more about the implementation of your "actual idea" in code rather than having to think about memory management.
