returning char addresses

[glennpl]

I came across this simple member function and Im confused this function returns and character address how can it return the character string Base?


const char* GetName() { return "Base"; }

[LB]

String literal constants are available globally from the string table, they don't leak memory or get destroyed with the stack.

[Aceix]

Put the code in between the code tags html symbols(whatever it is called).

Then why don't you change the return type?

Aceix.

[LB]

Aceix wrote:

Put the code in between the code tags html symbols(whatever it is called).

It's such a small snippet, he doesn't need to bother with it.

Aceix wrote:

Then why don't you change the return type?

The return type is correct, what are you referring to?

[jidder]

It is because it is returning a pointer.
The pointer points to a location like "0x348342" or whatever.
If the pointer points to a string literal it reads all subsequent data until it reaches the null terminator.
This means it doesn't actually return "Base" just the location.

[hansaaa]

yep, @ jidder