Tuple of reference?

[Thaina]

Just an idea that , without really using Tuple type. I think we might be able to return multiple reference with tuple syntax

The concept is. It does not have a real tuple object. But it force the caller to always deconstruct multiple reference returned from function sequentially

I suspect that IL could be able to do it?

struct Matrix4x4
{
    fixed float[16] _m;
    public (ref X,ref Y,ref Z) Position
    {
        get => (ref _m[12],ref _m[13],ref _m[14]);
    }

    public (ref X,ref Y,ref Z) Left
    {
        get => (ref _m[0],ref _m[4],ref _m[8]);
    }

    public (ref X,ref Y,ref Z) Forward
    {
        get => (ref _m[2],ref _m[6],ref _m[10]);
    }
}

Matrix4x4 matrix;

var position = matrix.Position;
position.X = 1; // matrix._m[12] = 1

// Not really use Tuple but actually transpiled to

(ref X_0,ref Y_0.ref Z_0) = matrix.Position;
X_0 = 1; // matrix._m[12] = 1

[svick]

I suspect that IL could be able to do it

I don't see how. You can't have ref fields, ref ref parameters or more than one ref return value. So what is the mechanism you suggest to be used here to actually return multiple refs?

[Thaina]

@svick I'm not so sure but I remember (maybe wrong) that IL could return sequence and load back in sequence

Still one way I'm quite sure it possible is returning a tuple of pointer and cast back to multiple ref var