Returning multiple values from a C++ function

Question

Is there a preferred way to return multiple values from a C++ function? For example, imagine a function that divides two integers and returns both the quotient and the rema

Answer 1

Alternatives include arrays, generators, and inversion of control, but none is appropriate here.

Some (e.g. Microsoft in historical Win32) tend to use reference parameters for simplicity, because it's clear who allocates and how it will look on the stack, reduces the proliferation of structures, and allows a separate return value for success.

"Pure" programmers prefer the struct, assuming it is the function value (as is the case here), rather than something that's touched incidentally by the function. If you had a more complicated procedure, or something with state, you'd probably use references (assuming you have a reason for not using a class).