Returning arrays from a function

[aggsyb]

Extremely basic but something I obviously looked over and now I need it :) !

int main()
{
   //create 2 arrays here to hold the int array and char array
   arrayFunction();
   return0;
}

int aarrayFunction();
{
   //does alot of maths here
   int numbers[3] = {1,2,3};
   char letter[3] = {t,y,u};
   //return both arrays
}

[LB]

You can't return arrays because arrays have special rules in C++ that make them annoying to deal with.

You have two options:
- Pass both arrays to arrayFunction and have it fill them with values
- Use std::vector, which you can return from functions.

I recommend using std::vector. Arrays are a pain to deal with and don't work the way you think they do even when you think you know.

[JLBorges]

If the arrays are as in your code (size known at compile-time), you can just wrap them (and the compiler should be able to optimize away the copies):

#include <iostream>
#include <array>
#include <utility>

std::pair< std::array<int,3>, std::array<char,4> > array_function()
{
   //does alot of maths here
   std::array<int,3> numbers = { 1, 2, 3 } ;
   std::array<char,4> letters = { 't', 'y', 'u', 'w' } ;

   //return both arrays
   return { numbers, letters } ;
}

int main()
{
    auto p = array_function() ;

    auto int_array = p.first ;
    for( int i : int_array ) std::cout << i << ' ' ;
    std::cout << '\n' ;

    auto char_array = p.second ;
    for( char c : char_array ) std::cout << c ;
    std::cout << '\n' ;
}

http://ideone.com/Qwfqsz