C++ function returning reference to array

Question

Is there any other way to receive a reference to an array from function returning except using a pointer?

Here is my code.

int ia[] = {1, 2, 3};
decl         


        

Answer 1

You should use std::array to avoid confusion and make cleaner, safer and less clunky code:

class A {
public:
    typedef std::array array;
    A() : ia{1, 2, 3} {}
    array &foo(){ return ia; }
private:
    array ia;
};

int main() {
    A a;
    auto i1 = a.foo();      // ok, type of i1 is A::array, it is a copy and visit array by i1[0]
    for ( int i : i1 ) {}   // you can iterate now, with C array you cannot anymore
    auto &i2 = a.foo();     // ok, type of i2 is A::array&, you can change original by i2[0] = 123 
    A::array i3 = a.foo();  // fine, i3 is now a copy and visit array by i3[0]
    A::array &i4 = a.foo(); // fine, you can change original by i4[0] = 123
    int *i5 = a.foo().data();  // if you want old way to pass to c function for example, it is safer you explicitly show your intention
    return 0;
}

I know the name of the array is a pointer to the first element in that array

This is incorrect, array can be implicitly converted to a pointer to the first element. It is not the same.