Modify method parameter within method or return result

Question

What is the difference between

private void DoSomething(int value) {
    value++;
}

and

private int DoSomething(int value)          


        

Answer 1

Since you are using postfix ++ the value returned is the original value of the number. Additionally since you are passing a copy of the number and not the number itself (ie by reference) the changes made to value don't affect the variable you passed.

So a program like this:

int value=1;
std::cout<

Should output as follows:

1
1
1

If you were to use prefix ++ in the returning or if you were to pass by reference in the non-returning function the same program would output as follows.

1
2
3

Hope that this helps.