Thread: returning std::string

As you're returning a std::string object and not a pointer or reference to the one created in the function then a copy of the returned sting will be made when the string is returned to the calling function (assuming you are assigning the return value to a string).

'name' will be out of scope, but 'name' won't be used after the function has returned.

If you are returning a pointer or reference to the string then you cannot rely on the value if the string object was created in the function.

well heres how i hear it from Bjarne Stroustrupm no not personally but from his book, and i Assume your using MSVC since it has poblems with this very thing.

>
std::string f(std::string first, std::string last)
{
std::string name = first + last;

return name;
}
<

this is perfectly legal and should work,

the compiler should setup a temporary variable to hold string and return it to the requesting variable. see example below

Code:

int func(void)
{
    int a = 10;
    return a;
}

int main()
{
    int k = func();
    printf("%d\n",k); // should print 10
    return 0;
}

the above should be equivalent in the result NOT IN ACTUALITY to the following

int main()
{
    int a = 10;
    k = a;
    printf("%d\n",k); 
    return 0;
}