Do pointers to string literals remain valid after a function returns?

Question

Is the pointer returned by the following function valid?

const char * bool2str( bool flg )
{
    return flg ? \"Yes\" : \"No\";
}

It works

Answer 1

This code is valid and standard compliant.

String literals are stored in read-only memory, and the function just gets the address of the chosen string.

C++ standard (2.13.4) says :

An ordinary string literal has type “array of n const char” and static storage duration

They key to understand your problem here, is the static storage duration : string literals are allocated when your program launch, and last for the duration of the program. Your function just gets the address and returns it.