Confusing function

Question

So, while using IDA to disassemble a dll, I came across this class function:

mov eax, [ecx+4]
mov eax, [eax]
retn

I know ecx means this and eax is the return value, but I fail to understand what it returns. Any help?

Answer 1

That function loads a pointer (into eax) at offset 4 from whatever ecx points to. Then it follows that pointer to load a 32-bit value into eax, which is returned from the function.

That's what the function does, but it's impossible to say what that means without a lot more context.