Problem returning std::string from a function - always returns null

[r3ap3r]

I am using the following recursive function for an assigment

string GetString(char numbers[100], int curNum){
    string returnString = "";
    int temp;
    if (numbers[curNum] != '\0'){
        for (int i = 0; i <=2; i++){
            //temp = ;
            returnString = returnString + keys[(int)numbers[curNum]-48][i];// + GetString(numbers, curNum + 1);
        }
    }
    return returnString;
}

The function is working correctly as I step through it and when I get to the end with the debugger on the like return returnString, the value is correct. But as soon as this line completes, returnString = null, and the function returns a null. I assume that this has something to do with the string variable being declared locally and is somehow an internal pointer that gets deleted... How can I get around this?

[Ganon11]

Declare it using a pointer?

[weaknessforcats]

No it's not about using a pointer.

The return will call the std::string copy constructor so that's not an issue.

I suspect your debugging is at fault. Do this:

string GetString(char numbers[100], int curNum){
    string returnString = "";
    returnstring = "weaknessforats";
     return returnString;
}
 

verify you get the string returned.

If you do, then you can search for the real culprit.