Returning by reference

[DrDolittle]

Please explain the need of "return" command in this program. This is an example program explaing returning by reference.

#include<iostream.h>
struct emp
{
char name[20];
int age;
float sal;
};
emp e1 = {"amol",21,2345.00};
emp e2 = {"ajay",23,4500.75};

void main()
{
emp &fun();
fun() = e2;
cout<<e1.name<<e1.age<<e1.sal;
}

emp &fun()
{
cout<<e1.name<<e1.age<<e1.sal;
return e1;
}

 

[alzomor]

Hi

I can't understand these two lins

emp &fun();
fun() = e2;

2nd I think there's no need to return e1;



Salam
Hossam

 

[DrDolittle]

emp &fun();
fun() = e2;

This is an example program for returning by reference

emp &fun(); /* is the prototype declaration. &fun() is used in place of conventional
way of calling the function fun().*/
fun() = e2; /* when the calling function uses reference operator "&", the function call
call can exist even on the receiving side of the assignment.

By all means,return statement is needed.

Regards
Pradeep