Create an array of function pointer in heap

Question

I have an array of 6 function pointers:

int (*arrayOfFunPointers[6])();

What I want to do now, is to allocate that array in heap
Because I create the array in a function and return a pointer to that array:

int (*(*fun2())[6])(){

    int (*funPointer)();
    int (*arrayOfFunPointers[6])();
    int (*(*pointerToArrayOfFunPointers)[6])();

    funPointer = &fun;
    arrayOfFunPointers[0] = funPointer;
    pointerToArrayOfFunPointers = &arrayOfFunPointers;

    return pointerToArrayOfFunPointers;
}

Outside of the method, the arrayOfFunPointers lose his validity area and the returned pointer point to "nothing"

I tried a lot like:

int (*arrayOfFunPointers[6])() = new int (*[6])();

or with typedef:

typedef int (*arrayOfFunPointers[6])();
arrayOfFunPointerss *array = new arrayOfFunPointers;

or by assignment to the returned pointer:

pointerToArrayOfFunPointers = new arrayOfFunPointers;
pointerToArrayOfFunPointers = new arrayOfFunPointers[]; //or

But nothing works.

Maybe I do not understand the use of the keyword new correctly, then it would be very helpful if anyone could tell me where I make a thinking mistake

Can anyone help me please? That would be nice

Even if you succeed in getting a pointer to an array of pointers to functions (gasp!), any attempts to call one of those functions will look just horrible, perhaps (*((*ptr)[i]))();, so why bother? Go with YSC's simplification instead. — Bo Persson
– Bo Persson, Commented Feb 16, 2018 at 13:50

YSC · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-16 10:49:54Z

3

You can simplify your life with tools from C++11. What about:

std::array<FunPointer, 6> getFunctions()
{
    std::array<FunPointer, 6> result;
    // ...
    return result;
}

isn't it just nice? Ne need to bother with dynamic memory, just copy those 6 pointers around, it is relatively cheap.

answered Feb 16, 2018 at 10:49

YSC

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2 Comments

Morchul Over a year ago

Thanks for your quick reply! I will try it out. Is FunPointer a typedef?

Morchul Over a year ago

It works, thanks. But the question was more: Can I do it and not can I simplify it. Please excuse if the question was inaccurate.

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