Error C4716 'Party::operator+': must return a value

Question

Party Party::operator + (const Party& party2)
{
    Party newParty;
    newParty.maxAttendees = maxAttendees + party2.maxAttendees;
    newParty.numAttendees = numAttendees + party2.numAttendees;

    for (int c = 0; c < getNumAttendees(); c++)
        newParty.attendees[c] = attendees[c];

    for (int c = numAttendees, d = 0; c < party2.numAttendees; c++, d++)
        newParty.attendees[c] = party2.attendees[d];

    if (date.compare(party2.date) == 0)
        newParty.date = date;

    if (location.compare(party2.location) == 0)
        newParty.location = location;

    if (organizer.compare(party2.organizer) == 0)
        newParty.organizer = organizer;


}

It is saying Party::operator+ must return a value. I tried returning party2, newParty and such but I get even more errors.

You need some sort of `return` statement. What exactly did you try and what errors did you get? — John Kugelman, Oct 22 '19 at 00:12
Just a shot in the dark - if you want to `return` a `Party`, you need to have a working copy constructor. — Otto von Bisquick, Oct 22 '19 at 00:15
***but I get even more errors*** We can't help with errors and code we can't see. — drescherjm, Oct 22 '19 at 00:16
Recommended reading: [What are the basic rules and idioms for operator overloading?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4421706/what-are-the-basic-rules-and-idioms-for-operator-overloading) — user4581301, Oct 22 '19 at 00:19
It is strange that you only use the date, location or organizer when both match both for the attendees, you don't check for duplicates. — Phil1970, Oct 22 '19 at 00:24

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 22 '19 at 00:40

This error is what it says on the tin; since you declared it to return a Party, you need to return a value at the end of the function:

Party Party::operator + (const Party& party2)
{
    // Some implementation...

    return newParty;
}

It wouldn't make sense not to return a value anyway since addition usually results in a new value of some kind.

Note: You might want to consider making your function const as well since your parameter is const:

Party Party::operator + (const Party& party2) const
{
    //...
}

Error C4716 'Party::operator+': must return a value

1 Answers1