C++ Examples:
Returning a Reference to a Pointer

Instead of returning a pointer or a reference, you can return a reference to a pointer. To declare such a function, precede its name with * and &. Here is an example:

double *& ShowNumber()
{
}

In the body of the function, you can do whatever is appropriate. An important rule with this type of function is that it must return either a global or a static variable. In other words, the variable that is returned must conserve its value when the function exits. Here is an example that returns a static variable:

double *& ShowNumber()
{
	double n = 1550.85;
	static double *v = &n;

	return v;
}

When calling the function, precede its name with an asterisk. Here is an example:

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

double *& ShowNumber()
{
	double n = 1550.85;
	static double *v = &n;

	return v;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
int main()
{
    double Number = *ShowNumber();

    cout << "Number: " << Number << endl;

    return 0;
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

This would produce:

Number: 1550.85