Thread: returning array

  1. #1
    Registered User
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    returning array

    It is possible to return a array from a function to main?

  2. #2
    Registered User Xzyx987X's Avatar
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    Sep 2003
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    First, this should be in either in the C or C++ forum, not Windows. And yes there is a way to do it, here's how:

    Code:
    //Program that returns an array of intigers
    
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    
    int * GetArray( int intA, int intB, int intC );
    
    int main(void)
    {
    
        int * arrayPtr;
    
        arrayPtr = GetArray( 1, 2, 3 );
    
        printf( "%d %d %d\n", arrayPtr[0], arrayPtr[1], arrayPtr[2] );
    
        free( (void *) arrayPtr );  //Free dynamically allocated memory once you finish with it to avoid memory leaks 
    
        system( "PAUSE" );
    
        return 0;
    
    }
    
    int * GetArray( int intA, int intB, int intC )
    {
    
        int * arrayPtr = (int *) malloc( sizeof( int ) * 3 );  //If you allocate the array withing the funtion malloc must be used or the the array be deallocated when the function exits
    
        arrayPtr[0] = intA;
        arrayPtr[1] = intB;
        arrayPtr[2] = intC;
    
        return arrayPtr;
    
    }
    This kind of stuff involves some fancy tricks with pointers an memory allocation so if there's anything you don't understand let me know

  3. #3
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    Sorry, posted at the wrong place.

    So this is using a pointer to point to a array in the function then pass the pointer back to the main?

  4. #4
    Just think of array[] as *array. Like was sown above, to return an array just set the return type as TYPE * ... The same goes for passing values.

  5. #5
    Registered User
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    Mar 2004
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    15
    Alternatively return an std::vector.

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