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Hi,

I need to write a function that returns a pointer on a function. Is it
possible, and which is the syntax ?

Thanks.
Boris

"Boris Sargos" <> wrote in message
news:c6ag98$dkg$...
> Hi,
>
> I need to write a function that returns a pointer on a function. Is it
> possible, and which is the syntax ?
>
> Thanks.
> Boris
>

Trying to do that without using a typedef is a real test of your
understanding of type declarations. The easy way is with a typedef

typedef void (*FUNC_PTR)(void); // or whatever

FUNC_PTR some_function()
{
...
}

It is however impossible to define a function that returns a pointer to
itself, that would mean an infinite recursion in the type of that function.

john

"John Harrison" <> wrote in message
news:c6ahbn$9ppkf$1@ID-> "Boris Sargos" <> wrote in
message

> > I need to write a function that returns a pointer on a function. Is it
> > possible, and which is the syntax ?

> Trying to do that without using a typedef is a real test of your
> understanding of type declarations. The easy way is with a typedef

Without typedef I think this is it:

void (*some_function())();

This is a function some_function taking no arguments and returning a pointer
to a function taking no arguments and returning a void. It's similar to a
function taking a reference to an array of elements. But of course, what
you have below is cleaner:

> typedef void (*FUNC_PTR)(void); // or whatever
>
> FUNC_PTR some_function()
> {
> ...
> }
>
> It is however impossible to define a function that returns a pointer to
> itself, that would mean an infinite recursion in the type of that
function.

This makes sense, because of

typedef FUNC_PTR (*FUNC_PTR)(void); // or whatever

But what about

void (*)(*some_function())();

Just guessing. Could be wrong.

"Siemel Naran" <> wrote in message
news:c7cic.28057$...
> "John Harrison" <> wrote in message
> news:c6ahbn$9ppkf$1@ID-> "Boris Sargos" <> wrote in
> message
>
> > > I need to write a function that returns a pointer on a function. Is it
> > > possible, and which is the syntax ?
>
> > Trying to do that without using a typedef is a real test of your
> > understanding of type declarations. The easy way is with a typedef
>
> Without typedef I think this is it:
>
> void (*some_function())();
>

That's right.

> This is a function some_function taking no arguments and returning a
pointer
> to a function taking no arguments and returning a void. It's similar to a
> function taking a reference to an array of elements. But of course, what
> you have below is cleaner:
>
> > typedef void (*FUNC_PTR)(void); // or whatever
> >
> > FUNC_PTR some_function()
> > {
> > ...
> > }
> >
> > It is however impossible to define a function that returns a pointer to
> > itself, that would mean an infinite recursion in the type of that
> function.
>
> This makes sense, because of
>
> typedef FUNC_PTR (*FUNC_PTR)(void); // or whatever
>
> But what about
>
> void (*)(*some_function())();
>
> Just guessing. Could be wrong.
>

Syntax error on my compiler. If it's not possible with a typedef I don't see
why you think it might be possible without a typedef.

john

>