Return an array from a function in C

Question

What is the proper way to return an array from a function in C? considering the caller doesn't know the size of the array, but without its size he cannot iterate over the array.

edit: just to clarify, the caller doesn't and shouldn't know the size of the returned array when calling the function.

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 16 '19 at 13:53

2

Return a struct where first element is the size and the second is the pointer to array.

struct size_and_array 
{
 int size;
 int* array; 
};

answered Apr 16 '19 at 13:53

srknzl

776
5
13

that's a possible solution but is it the optimal? – CyberGK Apr 16 '19 at 13:56
@CyberGK May not be. Dont know – srknzl Apr 16 '19 at 13:57
@CyberGK Probably no worse than other methods of passing two values back to the caller. – Ian Abbott Apr 16 '19 at 13:57

Return an array from a function in C

1 Answers1