simple C++ question | GameDev.net

gamer_aster · 2005-01-11T10:10:19+00:00

What's the main difference between the mere function and referencing function below? int ar[5]; int funcname(int n) { //some codes here; return ar[n]; } int& funcname(int n) { //some codes again; return ar[n]; } thx for replies in advance:)

The first example returns a copy of the int, also known as "return by value"

In the 2nd example, by returning a reference, the caller can modify the int, which will change the original int in the array. You can prevent changing by returning a const int &

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