Safe in C# not in C++, simple return of pointer / reference

Question

C++ code:

person* NewPerson(void)
{
  person p;
  /* ... */
  return &p; //return pointer to person.
}

C# code:

person          


        

Answer 1

The scoping rules in this example are analogous but in C# if the returned value is assigned to something then it will not be garbage collected as long as something holds a reference to it. If it's not assigned to something, nothing holds a reference to it and it will be garbage collected next time the collector executes