Programming Forums > Application Development > C++

Easter Bunny · Apr 21st, 2005, 3:19 AM

i quickly pieced this together so that you can get an idea of how much i need help. :o i've got an assignment to do involving arrays and passing them to and from functions. i'm trying to pass one or more arrays into a function, which i can do, but the problem comes when i try to return an array. compiling the code below gives me the following messages:

"expected unqualified-id before '[' token "
"expected `,' or `;' before '[' token "
and then highlights the 4th line. am i just being a dumbass or what?

(Toggle Plain Text)

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int[] aFunction( int IntArr[] )
{
    int Temp[] = IntArr;
}

int main()
{
    int array[6];
    
    for ( int i = 0 ; i < 6 ; i++ )
    {
        array[i] = i;
    }
}

thanks for the help.

Berto · Apr 21st, 2005, 3:57 AM

as far as i remember arrays are passed by reference

you generall pass a pointer to the array even though you dont have to strictly specify that.

(Toggle Plain Text)


#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void aFunction( int IntArr[] )
{
   
        for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++){
             IntArr[i] = i;
        }

}

int main()
{
    int array[6];

    aFunction(array);   

    for ( int i = 0 ; i < 6 ; i++ )
    {
        cout << array[i] << endl;
    }
    
    for (;;);
}

as you can see i put the values into the array inside the funciton and since its a reference to the array you do not need a return value, just remmeber to manipulate the array you pass otherwise the values are not altered.

Easter Bunny · Apr 21st, 2005, 5:14 AM

thanks for the help berto.

if it's a reference variable, then shouldn't it be:

(Toggle Plain Text)

void aFunction( int & IntArr[] )

? ok, i tried that, but it doesn't go. odd. so you say arrays are passed by reference(wow! the reference thing makes some sense now!!), which means that the reference to the array where it's stored in memory is passed along and not actually the array itself? does this happen to all objects(arrays are objects right?)? with things like int, char,float, blah blah blah... you have to specify the reference thing then, else it just passes the value and not the variable itself!!!!! i've got it!!!! (if someone tells me i'm wrong, then i'm gonna be very confused)

BaroN NighT · Apr 21st, 2005, 5:54 AM

Array are automatically passed by reference, hence you don't need to use the ampersand sign.

Berto · Apr 21st, 2005, 7:11 AM

its only arrays that this works on, normal variables are not passed by reference i am not 100% on objects but i think they are passed by value and not reference.

BaroN NighT · Apr 21st, 2005, 8:11 AM

You are most definitely right, Berto.

Easter Bunny · Apr 21st, 2005, 9:53 AM

cool! thanks. that made my day. i can go home and start panicing about my other subjects now. thanks guys.�

Apr 21st, 2005, 3:19 AM	#1
Easter Bunny Programmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: different places. constantly on the run. Posts: 57 Rep Power: 4	how do you return an array? solved i quickly pieced this together so that you can get an idea of how much i need help. :o i've got an assignment to do involving arrays and passing them to and from functions. i'm trying to pass one or more arrays into a function, which i can do, but the problem comes when i try to return an array. compiling the code below gives me the following messages: "expected unqualified-id before '[' token " "expected `,' or `;' before '[' token " and then highlights the 4th line. am i just being a dumbass or what? (Toggle Plain Text) #include <iostream> using namespace std; int[] aFunction( int IntArr[] ) { int Temp[] = IntArr; } int main() { int array[6]; for ( int i = 0 ; i < 6 ; i++ ) { array[i] = i; } } #include <iostream> using namespace std; int[] aFunction( int IntArr[] ) { int Temp[] = IntArr; } int main() { int array[6]; for ( int i = 0 ; i < 6 ; i++ ) { array[i] = i; } } thanks for the help. __________________ There's got to be more to life than being really, really ridiculously good looking Last edited by Easter Bunny; Apr 21st, 2005 at 9:55 AM. Reason: forgot to insert an error message

Apr 21st, 2005, 3:57 AM	#2
Berto Programming Guru Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,022 Rep Power: 6	as far as i remember arrays are passed by reference you generall pass a pointer to the array even though you dont have to strictly specify that. (Toggle Plain Text) #include <iostream> using namespace std; void aFunction( int IntArr[] ) { for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++){ IntArr[i] = i; } } int main() { int array[6]; aFunction(array); for ( int i = 0 ; i < 6 ; i++ ) { cout << array[i] << endl; } for (;;); } #include <iostream> using namespace std; void aFunction( int IntArr[] ) { for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++){ IntArr[i] = i; } } int main() { int array[6]; aFunction(array); for ( int i = 0 ; i < 6 ; i++ ) { cout << array[i] << endl; } for (;;); } as you can see i put the values into the array inside the funciton and since its a reference to the array you do not need a return value, just remmeber to manipulate the array you pass otherwise the values are not altered.

Apr 21st, 2005, 5:14 AM	#3
Easter Bunny Programmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: different places. constantly on the run. Posts: 57 Rep Power: 4	thanks for the help berto. if it's a reference variable, then shouldn't it be: (Toggle Plain Text) void aFunction( int & IntArr[] ) void aFunction( int & IntArr[] ) ? ok, i tried that, but it doesn't go. odd. so you say arrays are passed by reference(wow! the reference thing makes some sense now!!), which means that the reference to the array where it's stored in memory is passed along and not actually the array itself? does this happen to all objects(arrays are objects right?)? with things like int, char,float, blah blah blah... you have to specify the reference thing then, else it just passes the value and not the variable itself!!!!! i've got it!!!! (if someone tells me i'm wrong, then i'm gonna be very confused) __________________ There's got to be more to life than being really, really ridiculously good looking

Apr 21st, 2005, 9:53 AM	#7
Easter Bunny Programmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: different places. constantly on the run. Posts: 57 Rep Power: 4	cool! thanks. that made my day. i can go home and start panicing about my other subjects now. thanks guys.� __________________ There's got to be more to life than being really, really ridiculously good looking

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Apr 21st, 2005, 5:54 AM	#4
BaroN NighT Programmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Posts: 60 Rep Power: 4	Array are automatically passed by reference, hence you don't need to use the ampersand sign.

Apr 21st, 2005, 7:11 AM	#5
Berto Programming Guru Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,022 Rep Power: 6	its only arrays that this works on, normal variables are not passed by reference i am not 100% on objects but i think they are passed by value and not reference.

Apr 21st, 2005, 8:11 AM	#6
BaroN NighT Programmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Posts: 60 Rep Power: 4	You are most definitely right, Berto.

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Programming Forums > Application Development > C++

how do you return an array?