Scope and return values in C++

Question

I am starting again with c++ and was thinking about the scope of variables. If I have a variable inside a function and then I return that variable will the variable not be \

Answer 1

Just for a little bit more of a memory-model oriented explanation: when a function is called, a temporary space is made for the function to put its local variables, called a frame. When the function (callee) returns its value, it puts the return value in the frame of the function that called it (caller), and then the callee frame is destroyed.

The "frame is destroyed" part is why you can't return pointers or references to local variables from functions. A pointer is effectively a memory location, so returning the memory location of a local variable (by definition: a variable within the frame) becomes incorrect once the frame is destroyed. Since the callee frame is destroyed as soon as it returns its value, any pointer or reference to a local variable is immediately incorrect.