title: C: can a function return a global variable?
body: <p>Suppose a I have a *.c file with a global variable ("global" in the sense that it has file scope) and a function.  Can the function return that variable as a value to be used in other translation units?</p>
  
  <p>I assume the answer is "yes."  If nothing else, I assume that in C return operates under "copy" semantics---the value of the return expression is returned.  But I'm not sure.</p>