class - C++ Error: lvalue required as unary '&' operand -

i have created class named node. defined follows:

class node {     private:         int key;         node * next;      public:         void setkey(int key);         void setnext(node * next);         int getkey();         node * getnext(); }; 

these functions basic getter , setter functions. now, if try this:

movenode(&(btail->getnext()),&start); 

it shows error :lvalue required unary '&' operand

now, if update class node , keep (node * next) public , access via this:

movenode(&(btail->next),&start); 

it shows no error.

please how can rid of error.

when return node* getnext(), create temporary variable of node* type, has no sense take address using &, temporary variable anyway destroyed soon.

when directly access next, refer long-living variable, , can take address.

you might want return reference node* getnext():

node*& getnext() {return next;}; 

so point same variable next , able take address.