Returning by reference

[NITIN25]

Hello friends

What is the use of returning by reference , other than avoiding call to the copy constructor for a large object.

AND Please explain this code:-

// FUNCTION DEFINITION
int &add(int &a)
{    
     a+=1;
     return a;
}
 
main()
{
    int b;
    int &ref=b;
    add(ref);   // POINT OF DOUBT
    return 0;
}
 

In the above code add function returns reference to integer , now when i call it in main i give no lvalue , so what will happen to reference returned by function.

[sicarie]

Because you never instantiate b to any number, the behavior is undefined.

[NITIN25]

Because you never instantiate b to any number, the behavior is undefined.

But what if i do instantiate b.
b=5;

[sicarie]

But what if i do instantiate b.
b=5;

Did you try putting it into a compiler? I would imagine that would give you the answer rather quickly (more quickly than posting on a forum, perhaps?). And if you really want to know what is going on, you can insert cout or printf statements and see what the value is.

[weaknessforcats]

You have an object that has a container as a member.

You can return a pointer to an element of that container.

The caller dereferences the pointer and changes the element in the container.

So, you can return a reference to the element and save the trouble of dereferencing the pointer.

Same rules apply: Never return a pointer to a local variable.
Never return a reference to a local variable.

[RRick]

Returning something by reference "usually" means that the orginating object/method keeps control of the life of that "something". This means the orginating object guarantees that the reference is valid after it is returned to the calling routine. That's why a reference to a local object is a no-no and is typically a disaster (i.e. crash & burn).

As stated above, objects usually return references to other things within or controlled by the object. As long as the object stays alive, the reference needs be valid. The major exception to this rule is when you tell the object to delete the thing in the reference. Now all bets are off.

Returning pointers in C++ "usually" means the object is passing ownership of the thing to you. Now you control the life span of passed thing.

"Usually" is my way of saying that these rules are made by the developer and are not enforced by the compiler. This means they can be (and are) broken at will.