c++ weird function

Question

I don't know why it is changing third sign to w, this is very weird notation(i know why it is third one, but I don't know how it works).

using namespace std;
char napis[] = "ALICE";

char& which(int n){
    return napis[n];
}

int main(){
which(2) = 'w';
cout << napis << endl;
return 0;
}

You need to [read up](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/388242/the-definitive-c-book-guide-and-list) on C++ references. — Oliver Charlesworth, Jun 23 '12 at 12:20

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 23 '12 at 12:20

Get a book, seriously.

which() returns reference to third element of the array; by which(2) = ... you assign value to variable referenced by that reference.

But to understand how it really works you have to understand what a reference is - which is explained in that book you should get.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 23 '12 at 12:21

1

Since the string "ALICE" is an array of chars, and an array starts at index 0, the 2nd index is the third char in the string.

You are also returning a reference instead of a copy of the char, this is why the string changes if you change it's value.

answered Jun 23 '12 at 12:21

Melvin

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c++ weird function

2 Answers2