C++ return reference of object

Question

    MyClass& getMyClass() {return m_class}

private:

    myClass* m_class;

This gives me error msg: error: invalid initialization of reference of type 'myClass&' from expression of type 'myClass*'

What should I change to make it work? I want to return refenrence of this object. So I dont want to change getMyClass function prototype.

Answer 1

Change it to

return *m_class;

Make sure m_class is a valid pointer (eg not NULL or freed)!

Answer 2

MyClass &getMyClass() { return *m_class; }

Answer 3

Because pointers are not references, and you are returning a pointer, whereas should return a reference. In order to turn a pointer into a reference (in this case), you must de-reference a pointer, for example:

MyClass& getMyClass() {return *m_class}