When is it useful to return a void function from another void function in C++?

Asked Jan 30 '23 at 03:50

Active Jan 30 '23 at 06:41

Viewed 116 times

This code is legal:

void bar() {}

void foo() {
    return bar();
}

You can't assign anything to a void object, so why would you want to return a void?

EDIT: this question is not related to this question. It is asking if returning void is legal. I'm asking when you would ever want to return void.

edited Jan 30 '23 at 06:04

asked Jan 30 '23 at 03:50

TwistedBlizzard

16

It simplifies writing template code where the template parameter can be `void` or something else. Then you don't have to add special cases for void – M.M Jan 30 '23 at 03:52
@beangod Does this answer your question? https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35987493/return-void-type-in-c-and-c – Something Something Jan 30 '23 at 05:43
5

Note, you are not returning a void function, you are returning the result of a void function. – Ranoiaetep Jan 30 '23 at 05:58
This code is not valid in C++. – n. m. could be an AI Jan 30 '23 at 06:11
@n.m. how is it invalid? – alagner Jan 30 '23 at 06:14
@n.m it has been valid since c++98 – Something Something Jan 30 '23 at 06:18
Sorry my bad, it is legal. – n. m. could be an AI Jan 30 '23 at 06:29
2

Voting to re-open. The other question is about whether returning a void expression is legal. This is about _when_ it would be useful. Also, the other question is a mishmash of C and C++, and this one is better focused. – Adrian McCarthy Jan 30 '23 at 06:41
2

@M.M please write it up as an answer. – Karl Knechtel Jan 30 '23 at 06:43
1

@AdrianMcCarthy Better dupe [C++: return the return value of a void function from a void function](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/37009695/c-return-the-return-value-of-a-void-function-from-a-void-function) and here is some more related [Can I return in void function?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2249108/can-i-return-in-void-function) – Jason Jan 30 '23 at 06:47
1

More accurate duplicate: [Return void function value from a void function](https://stackoverflow.com/a/37009842/19946454) – Alex Jan 30 '23 at 06:56

When is it useful to return a void function from another void function in C++?

0 Answers0