what is the correct way to compare the return of a function

Question

A simple question. I have a function int function(void) . Are the following statements the same:

a. if( function() == somevalue ) //somevalue is integer
b. if( (function()) == somevalue )
c. if( (ret = function()) == somevalue ) //where ret is an integer

Answer 1

All three of them are functionally equivalent as far as comparing the return value is concerned.

(a) and (b) are equivalent whereas (c) lets you save the return value from function (in ret ) if you need later. Unless you need the return value of function() later for some other purpose, I'd recommend using (a).