Using Pointers

Recently, I have been learning C++ using the book "Jumping Into C++" and I had a question about one of the exercises. The exercise is as follows:

Write a function that prompts the user to enter his or her first name and last name, as two separate values. This function should return both values to the caller via additional pointer (or reference) parameters that are passed to the function. Try doing this first with pointers and then with references. (Hint: the function signature will look be similar to the swap function from earlier!)

Here is what my solution looks like:

Code:

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#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

void nameSwap(string *pFname, string *pLname);

int main(){

    string firstName;
    string lastName;

    cout << "Please enter your first name: ";
    getline(cin, firstName);
    cout << "Please enter your last name: ";
    getline(cin, lastName);
    nameSwap(&firstName, &lastName);
    cout << "Nice to meet you " << lastName << " " << firstName << "!" << "\n";

    return 0;
}

void nameSwap(string *pFname, string *pLname){

    string temp = *pFname;
    *pFname = *pLname;
    *pLname = temp;
}

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When I run the code it works but I'm not sure if I'm doing what the problem is asking. It doesn't ask to swap the names, so that's why I wrote the nameSwap function like that. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

It's not asking you to swap names; it's saying that an earlier function for swapping can give you an idea of what this function might look like. The function that you're supposed to write is about reading in the names.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by laserlight

It's not asking you to swap names; it's saying that an earlier function for swapping can give you an idea of what this function might look like. The function that you're supposed to write is about reading in the names.

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Ah, thanks for clearing that up for me. Much appreciated!

I've been a bit busy but I solved the problem thanks to your clarification. Thanks again!

Here's the solution I came up with:

Code:

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#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

string name(string *pFname, string *pLname);

int main(){
   
    string firstName;
    string lastName;

    cout << "Nice to meet you " << name(&firstName, &lastName);

    return 0;
}

string name(string *pFname, string *pLname){

    cout << "Please enter your first name: ";
    getline(cin, *pFname);
    cout << "Please enter your last name: ";
    getline(cin, *pLname);

    string fullName = (*pFname) + " " + (*pLname);
    return fullName;
}

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