[C++]What's the difference between these returns?

Sorry for all the questions but im the process of learning at the moment and i apologize.

Anyways.

Below are two scripts. Apparently, the first one is the correct way of coding, and the second one has a few changes in it near the end. Why does the second script not work and what's the difference?

First Script:

Code:

---


#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int mult ( int x, int y );

int main()
{
  int x;
  int y;
 
  cout<<"Please input two numbers to be multiplied: ";
  cin>> x >> y;
  cin.ignore();
  cout<<"The product of your two numbers is "<< mult ( x, y ) <<"\n";
  cin.get();
}

int mult ( int x, int y )
{
  return x * y;
}

---

And here is the second one which won't work:

Code:

---

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int mult ( int x, int y );

int main()
{
  int x;
  int y;
 
  cout<<"Please input two numbers to be multiplied: ";
  cin>> x >> y;
  cin.ignore();
  cout<<"The product of your two numbers is "<< mult ( x, y ) <<"\n";
  cin.get();
}

int mult ( int x, int y)
{
        return mult ( x , y );
}

---

Thanks to all who answer

In the latter one you're doing a so-called recursive call. By saying return mult(x, y); you're saying that return whatever value the function mult returns with parameters (x,y), so mult will call mult again, which will call mult again, and so on... never getting to a point that a simple value is returned.

The latter is the same as
int mult(int x, int y)
{
int z = mult(x, y);
return z;
}

alright that makes sense. Thank you. But one more question, why do we even need that last part if we just put in "cin.get();"? shouldn't it return it if we put that in?

I don't understand your question. What do you mean with "last part" and "it"?

I'm not sure if I understood the question, But you need the cin.get(); because when you run the code(Not in debug mode) when it will finish it will exit and you wont be able to see the result, By adding cin.get(); you're making your code wait for some input and by that allowing you to see the last line the program wrote in the console.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Noob4Ever

I'm not sure if I understood the question, But you need the cin.get(); because when you run the code(Not in debug mode) when it will finish it will exit and you wont be able to see the result, By adding cin.get(); you're making your code wait for some input and by that allowing you to see the last line the program wrote in the console.

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Yes. The console will not close that way unless you press a key.