Initial assignment a Char Array using a Function in C - string

Question

as we know it in C, a string defining is,
char string[] = "Hello World";
That is OK,
But I want to use a function and at initial same up,
I tried those, For example;
char * to_string()
{
return "Hello World";
}
Or;
char * to_String(void) // Function
{
char buff[16];
sprintf(buff, "%s", "Hello World");
return buff;
}
main() // main function
{
char Initial_String[] = to_String();
}
How to make this or any idea same another way.
I find what I dont send address of char Initial_String[] to fill into. No. is there Another method.
Thanks.

Answer 1

When you compile this, atleast in GCC, it will give you the following warning:
b.c:9: warning: function returns address of local variable
Why? Because buff[] is a local variable of function to_string(). Its scope is only inside the function to_string(). main() does not have any access to this variable. Try making buff[] a global variable instead.
Second problem: char Initial_String[] = to_String(); cannot be assigned value in this way. to_string() returns a char pointer, hence assign the value thus:
char *Initial_String = to_String();
The code below will work:
char buff[16];
char* to_String(void) // Function
{
//char buff[16]; /*this is a local variable*/
sprintf(buff, "%s", "Hello World");
return buff;
}
int main(void) // main function
{
char *Initial_String = to_String();
printf("%s", Initial_String);
return 0;
}

Answer 2

Yes You are right about local buffer mismake,
But This is not my wanting,
if I edit some differently,
char buff[16];
char* to_String(void) // Function
{
//char buff[16]; /*this is a local variable*/
sprintf(buff, "%s", "Hello World");
return buff;
}
int main(void) // main function
{
char *Initial_String_1 = to_String();
char *Initial_String_2 = to_String();
char *Initial_String_3 = to_String();
printf("%s", Initial_String_1 );
printf("%s", Initial_String_2 );
printf("%s", Initial_String_3 );
in this case, all strings will be same, because They have same buffer address,
I want to open the topic little more.
struct
{
long aaa;
short bbb;
int ccc;
char ddd;
.
.
. // the list goes on
}elements;
typedef struct
{
int lengt;
int *adress;
char name[10];
}_list;
char* to_String(long variable) // Function
{
sprintf(buff, "%ld", variable);
return buff;
}
int main (void)
{
_list My_List[] = {
{ sizeof(elements.aaa), &elements.aaa , to_string( elements.aaa) },
{ sizeof(elements.bbb), &elements.bbb , to_string( elements.bbb) },
{ sizeof(elements.ccc), &elements.ccc , to_string( elements.ddd) },
.
.
. //// the list goes on
};
I do not know, Do I make myself clear.
Here, string must be filled into name array, without assigning it the address.
I may have syntax mistake. the code is not tested with compiler. the idea is for illustrative purposes only.
I am trying to find a method for The purpose.
Thanks.