Safe in C# not in C++, simple return of pointer / reference

Question

C++ code:

person* NewPerson(void)
{
  person p;
  /* ... */
  return &p; //return pointer to person.
}

C# code:

person          


        

Answer 1

In C++, that 'p' will live on the stack and thus get clobbered when the function returns. In C#, the garbage collector knows to not clobber it until the last reference is lost.

('clobber' being used loosely here... :p)