Returning a string from a function in C

Question

I have a c function that I want to return a string.

If I print the string before it is returned then I see croc_data_0186.idx

If I try and print the string

Answer 1

You are returning a pointer to a local variable that doesn't exist anymore when the function returns. You have to malloc storage for it and return that. Alternatively, you can let the caller pass in a buffer to be filled. In any case the caller is responsible for freeing the memory later.