Exercise 6.53

Explain the effect of the second declaration in each one of the following sets of declarations. Indicate which, if any, are illegal.

(a)

int calc(int&, int&);
int calc(const int&, const int&);

(b)

int calc(char*, char*);
int calc(const char*, const char*);

(c)

int calc(char*, char*);
int calc(char* const, char* const);

Solution

(a)'s second declaration will declare a second function which accepts references to const ints. (b)'s second declaration will similarly declare a second function which accepts pointers to const chars. (c) is illegal, because it declares two functions which accept pointers to chars, which can both accept const pointers.