Search code examples
c++return-typeauto

How do I terminate (or return from) an auto function with a structure type during execution?


How do I terminate an "auto" type function with a structure return type during execution?

I want to escape the auto function 'Func' (not the entire program) when some condition is satisfied as follows:

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <vector>
#include <tchar.h>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

auto Func(int B, vector<int> A) {
    for (int a = 0; a < B; a++)
    {
        A.push_back(a);
        if (a == 2)
        {
            cout << " Terminate Func! " << endl;
            // return; I want to terminate 'Func' at this point  
        }
    }

    struct result { vector <int> A; int B; };
    return result{ A, B };
}

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{

    vector<int> A;
    int B = 5;

    auto result = Func(B, A);
    A = result.A;
    B = result.B;

    for (int a = 0; a < A.size(); a++)
    {
        cout << A[a] << endl;
    }
}

I don't want to use "exit()" because I just want to terminate a function not the program.


Solution

  • You can return a define the return type result at the top of the function and then return an "empty" instance like this:

    auto Func(int B, vector<int> A) {
        struct result { vector <int> A; int B; };
    
        for (int a = 0; a < B; a++)
        {
            A.push_back(a);
            if (a == 2)
            {
                return result{{}, 0};
            }
        }
    
        return result{ A, B };
    }
    

    If you don't want a valid object to be returned when the early-return condition is met, consider returning a std::optional<result> from the function, and specifically std::nullopt in the early return branch. But this requires C++17.