Returning a pointer of a local variable C++

Question

I need to create a function that returns a pointer to an int.

Like so:

int * count()
{
    int myInt = 5;

    int * const p = &myInt;

    return p;
}

Since a pointer is simply an address, and the variable myInt is destroyed after this function is called. How do I declare an int inside this method that will keep a place in the memory in order for me to access it later via the returned pointer? I know I could declare the int globally outside of the function, but I want to declare it inside the function.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Answer 1

If you want to return a pointer of a variable correctly you have to do something like.

int * myInt = new int(5);

This is not a local variable BTW, meaning it does not have automatic storage and you have to delete the memory yourself

However using pointers like this is generally unnecessary and unadvised. It's better to create an int outside the function and have the function take a reference.

void count(int & i)
{
    i = 5;
}

BTW I don't know how you are planning to use the variable but since you also suggested using a global variable you may want to use a static var which @JonathanPotter suggested first. In many ways a static variable is similar to a global variable (both have static storage durations)