Return Type

[LEF]

Hello All,

My apologies if this question is in the FAQ, however, I looked for the FAQ
but couldn't find it. Direction to it would be appreciated. My question is
very simple, can a class have as a return type for one it's methods the type
the class defines? Probably not clear, an example:

class example {
public:
example testfn();
};

example example::testfn() {
}

Is that valid?

Thanks.

 

[Victor Bazarov]

My apologies if this question is in the FAQ, however, I looked for the FAQ
but couldn't find it. Direction to it would be appreciated. My question is
very simple, can a class have as a return type for one it's methods the type
the class defines? Probably not clear, an example:

class example {
public:
example testfn();
};

example example::testfn() {
}

Is that valid?

Absolutely. Do you experience any problems?

V

 

[Chris \( Val \)]

| Hello All,
|
| My apologies if this question is in the FAQ, however, I looked for the FAQ
| but couldn't find it. Direction to it would be appreciated. My question is
| very simple, can a class have as a return type for one it's methods the type
| the class defines? Probably not clear, an example:
|
| class example {
| public:
| example testfn();
| };
|
| example example::testfn() {
| }
|
| Is that valid?

As long as you actually return an object of type
'example', then yes - Not only is it valid, it is
a commonly used construct.

Cheers,
Chris Val

 

[Samee Zahur]

That IS how it is mostly done. But to be able to return an object of
type 'example' from any function (member or not) by value, you must
have a valid copy constructor (explicitly defined or compiler
generated). If you don't know what a copy-ctor is, forget what I just
said

Samee