What to do for an error return for a struct object?

[randompersonhere]

I have a function that returns a struct. If and else statement. How do I write it with one return without unnecessary stuff since I can't return a null object?

[SakurasouBusters]

Can you show your current code?

[rabster]

Are you making a struct to return or are you simply trying to return a reference to an object.

[randompersonhere]

I am returning a pointer 'this', but isn't that an object?

[rabster]

Well here are some partial pseudo code possibilities, there is probably more ways doing of this but here are some.

The this pointer points to the internals of a class or struct, which are objects.

Return nullptr or this. Check if it's not nullptr after calling to ensure safety.

type* getStruct() {
    if (condition) {
        return this;
    }
    else {
        return nullptr;
    }
}

Using an exception and then when you call it you check for exception.

type& getStruct() {
    if (condition) {
        return *this;
    }
    else {
        throw std::logic_error("invalid condition");
    }
}

Pass in an object and assign to this otherwise assign nullpltr. Then you could check after the pointer you passed in after calling.

void getStruct(type* obj) {
    if (condition) {
        obj = this;
    }
    else {
        obj = nullptr;
    }
}

I'd probably choose the first one but there could be a better way.

[randompersonhere]

What if it is *this instead of this?