[comp.lang.c] Return of arrays and structures,...efficiency/clarity/consistency,...

rburgess@milton.u.washington.edu (Rick Burgess) (04/18/91)

Two questions:

Novice question:	Apparently values of structures can be returned
			from functions under the ANSI standard...?  Can
                        Arrays also?  Aren't structures essentially a
			pointer constant just like arrays?  When you
			pass a structure and not a structure pointer
			aren't you gonna end up with the version modified
			in the routine it is passed to just like with
			arrays?

Programmer question:	Can anyone give some logical or anectdotal suggestions
			on when pointers are well used, when structures and
			arrays themselves, and when it is actually good to
			return either or both of these rather than just
			letting them be modified directly by the subroutine?

(I know, I should probably take a compsci course, right?)