CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++c++98
HazemGomaa
HazemGomaa

Reputation: 1630

can't pass by reference a pointer returned from a function

why I need intermediate variable to pass my return pointer by reference instead of just using the function that returns that pointer ?

This doesn't compile 

int main ()
{
  testfunc(getpointer());
  return 0;
}

error: C2664: 'void testfunc(int *&)': cannot convert argument 1 from 'int *' to 'int *&'

and this compiles

int main ()
{
   int *i = getpointer();
   testfunc(i);
   return 0; 
}

my two functions

void testfunc(int *& i) // I have to use this interface
{
  cout << i[0] <<endl;
}

int* getpointer()
{
  int * arr1 = new int[1];
  arr1[0]=10;
  return arr1;
}

Upvotes: 1

Views: 486

Answers (1)

David Schwartz
David Schwartz

Reputation: 182865

The C++ language prohibits binding a non-const reference to a temporary. In this case, the simple fix is to make testfunc take a const reference to an int*.

Upvotes: 5

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