Error binding reference to array passed to function (c++) -

i'm using mingw64 eclipse, language c++ stated above.

i have following code:

double * my_function (my_class i1, my_class i2, double return_vector[3]) {     double test[3];     double (&rtest)[3]=test;     double (&description_vector)[3] = return_vector;      // more code     return (description_vector); } 

binding rtest test works fine, here compiler tells me warning: unused variable, expected, it's not used anywhere in code wanted find out if works in principle.

however binding description_vector return_vector results in following error:

error: invalid initialization of reference of type 'double (&)[3]' expression of type 'double*' 

why? why binding rtest test legal not binding of description_vector return_vector?

so may ask "but why binding reference description_vector return_vector? use return_vector in return statement - it's same after all."

i want confer information reader of code (basically me when i'll @ in future). way see have pass vector function purpose of returning it's calculation. see description_vector alias return_vector , name of description_vector can see supposed hold.

when pass array function decays pointer first element , can't bind reference array. should either pass reference array parameter or make life easier using vectors (and iterators).