gcc C17 return from incompatible pointer type

Question

char *funArr(char *s[]){
    return s;
}


int main(void){ 
    char *s[] = {"a","b"};
    char *r = funArr(s);
    printf("%s",r[0]);
}

I can't get an array from a function correctly. I know what the problem is, but I don't know how to solve it. I'm just getting started with C, can anyone help me?

Answer 1

A function parameter having an array type is adjusted by the compiler to pointer to the array element type.

So this function declaration

char *funArr(char *s[]){

is adjusted by the compiler to

char *funArr(char **s){

As you see the parameter s has the type char **. If you want to return this pointer then the function return type shall be char **.

char ** funArr(char *s[]){

So in main you need to write

char **r = funArr(s);
printf("%s",r[0]);

Here is your updated program.

#include <stdio.h>

char ** funArr( char *s[] )
{
    return s;
}


int main(void)
{ 
    char * s[] = { "a", "b" };
    
    char **r = funArr( s );
    
    puts( r[0] );
}

The program output is

a