Fail to return int value from a function I have created myJSON library to simplify read and write values from/ to FLASH of my ESP8266 NodeMCU/ Wemos Mini.

I do not want to "mess up" the question, posting my entire code/ library - but to try to explain what happens - 

I get a 0 value when reading a specific key (and not its saved value ). My assumption is that is has nothing to do with myJSON library, but my understanding in returning a value from a function.

Code is as follows:

(some explanations first):

1) json is an instance of myJSON library. 

2) json.setValue(key, value) - gets a key and a value ( char/ int) and save it to FLASH.

3)json.getINTValue(key, return_var)- gets a key and return its int value to return_var. function return 1 - for successful read, and 0 when not.

inside setup()

int int_val;
// json.setValue("int_key",343); // commented out after first run - to be sure is is saved and read from flash.
Serial.println(json.getINTValue("int_key",int_val)); // NOTE 2
Serial.print("Value is: "); // NOTE 3
Serial.println(int_val);   //  NOTE 3


myJSON ( only relevant code )

bool myJSON::getINTValue (const char *key, int retval){
        StaticJsonDocument&lt;DOC_SIZE&gt; tempJDOC;
        myJSON::readJSON_file(tempJDOC);
        bool hasKey = tempJDOC.containsKey(key);
        if (hasKey){
          retval = tempJDOC[key];
          Serial.print("retval :"); // NOTE 1
          Serial.println(retval);  // NOTE 1
          return 1;
        }
        else {
          return 0; // when key is not present
        }
}

void myJSON::setValue(const char *key, char *value){
        StaticJsonDocument&lt;DOC_SIZE&gt; tempJDOC;
        myJSON::readJSON_file(tempJDOC);
        tempJDOC[key]=value;
        myJSON::saveJSON2file(tempJDOC);
}
void myJSON::setValue(const char *key, int value){
        StaticJsonDocument&lt;DOC_SIZE&gt; tempJDOC;
        myJSON::readJSON_file(tempJDOC);
        tempJDOC[key]=value;
        myJSON::saveJSON2file(tempJDOC);
}


result is (SEE NOTATIONS):

21:01:03.198 -&gt; retval :343  // OUTPUT NOTE 1
21:01:03.198 -&gt; 1            // OUTPUT NOTE 2 
21:01:03.198 -&gt; Value is: 0  // OUTPUT NOTE 3


As far a I could understand :

1) setValue works as needed ( inc. saving to flash ).
2) unexplained besides getting value = 0, is when setting a char value ( there are 2 myJSON::setValue functions to deal with int and char), code works as needed.

Appreciate any help ( and sorry for my English ).

Guy
the parameters of a function call are copied into parameters in the function. if the pointer is copied it still points to a memory where you write the data. if int is copied then changing the value changes the copy, not the variable used as parameter. reference is kind of pointer

how to make an in-out parameter by passing a parameter by reference

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);
  int x = 3;
  fnc(x);
  Serial.println(x);
}

void loop() {

}

void fnc(int &amp;x) {
  x = 5;
}


prints 5    

example with a complex type

#include &lt;IPAddress.h&gt;

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);
  IPAddress ip(192, 168, 1, 5);
  fnc(ip);
  Serial.println(ip);
}

void loop() {

}

void fnc(IPAddress&amp; ip) {
  ip = IPAddress(192, 168, 1, 3);
}


with &amp;ip it prints 192.168.1.3. without &amp; it prints 192.168.1.5