How come this works?

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

std::string Func()
{
        std::string linha;

        std::getline(std::cin, linha);

        return linha;
}


int main()
{
        std::string linha;

        linha = Func();

        std::cout << linha << std::endl;
}

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In function Func(), I'm returning a local variable and the program displays the correct result. I can't figure out why...
Thanks.

I suspect the string class has a copy constructor which dupes the string. Much like returning an integer or what not returns a copy (value actually) when you return one.


Quzah.

Yeah, it looks normal - you arent returning a reference to the local string after all.

That code looks ok to me... i mean it is suppose to return a string...

It's the same situation as:

Code:

---

int func1()
{
  return 1;  //Returning 1 by value
}
std::string func2()
{
  return std::string("Some String");  //Return a copy of std::string("Some String")
}

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You're just returning a value. The problem is, as laserlight mentioned, when you try returning a reference or pointer:

Code:

---

int& func1()
{
  int localVariable;
  return localVariable;  //localVariable won't exist after func1() ends
}

std::string* func2()
{
  std::string localString("Some String");
  return &localString;  //This address will point to nothing when func2() ends
}

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