const int p vs int const p - Is const after the type acceptable

0 votes

My coworker is 0 for 2 on questions inspired by him (1, 2), so I decided to give him a chance to catch up.

Our most recent argument is about the placement of "const" on declarations.

He believes it should be placed either in front of the type or after the pointer. 

The explanation is that this is what everyone else does, and different styles are likely to be confusing. 

Thus, a constant pointer to int and a constant pointer to int would be:

const int *i;
      int * const i;

Nonetheless, I'm perplexed. 

I need rules that are consistent and simple to comprehend, and the only way I can understand "const" is because it comes after the object it modifies. 

There is an exception that permits it to come before the final type, but it's an exception, so I'd rather not use it.

Thus, a constant pointer to int and a constant pointer to int would be:

int const * i;
int * const i;

Doing things this way also makes deeper degrees of indirection easier to grasp. 

A pointer to a constant pointer to int, for example, would plainly be:

int * const * i;

My thesis is that if someone learns it his way, they'll have no problem calculating what the above amounts to.

The main problem here is that he believes that placing const after int is so hideous and detrimental to reading that it should be prohibited in the style guide. 

Of course, I believe the guide should recommend doing things my way, but we should not exclude one method.

Jul 22, 2022 in C++ by Nicholas
• 7,760 points
551 views

No answer to this question. Be the first to respond.

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.

Related Questions In C++

0 votes
0 answers

What does the C++ standard state the size of int, long type to be?

I'm seeking for specific information on the sizes of basic C++ types.  I understand that it is determined by the architecture (16 bits, 32 bits, or 64 bits) and the compiler. But are there any C++ standards? On a 32-bit architecture, I'm using Visual Studio 2008.  This is what I get: char : 1 byte short : 2 ...READ MORE

Jul 5, 2022 in C++ by Nicholas
• 7,760 points
402 views
0 votes
0 answers

What does the C++ standard state the size of int, long type to be?

I'm seeking for specific information on the sizes of basic C++ types.  I understand that it is determined by the architecture (16 bits, 32 bits, or 64 bits) and the compiler. But are there any C++ standards? On a 32-bit architecture, I'm using Visual Studio 2008.  This is what I get: char : 1 byte short : 2 ...READ MORE

Jul 7, 2022 in C++ by Nicholas
• 7,760 points
353 views
0 votes
0 answers

Visual C++ vs Visual C# , which is the best to learn?

I completed my C++ lessons and practises ...READ MORE

Jul 22, 2022 in C++ by Nicholas
• 7,760 points
351 views
0 votes
0 answers

What is the C++ function to raise a number to a power?

What's the best way to raise a n ...READ MORE

Jun 1, 2022 in C++ by Nicholas
• 7,760 points
520 views
0 votes
1 answer

Check if element is in the list (contains)

The simplest and quickest method. You could also ...READ MORE

answered Jun 2, 2022 in C++ by Damon
• 4,960 points
2,081 views
0 votes
1 answer

What is the best way to use a HashMap in C++?

The ordered and unordered map containers (std::map and std::unordered map) are included in the standard library.  The items in an ordered map are sorted by key, and insert and access are in O (log n).  For ordered maps, the standard library often use red black trees.  However, this is only an implementation detail.  Insert and access are in O in an unordered map (1).  It is simply another term for a hashtable. An illustration using (ordered) std::map: #include <map> #include <iostream> #include <cassert> int main(int argc, char ...READ MORE

answered Jun 10, 2022 in C++ by Damon
• 4,960 points
835 views
0 votes
1 answer

What is a smart pointer and when should I use one?

A smart pointer is similar to a ...READ MORE

answered Jun 2, 2022 in C++ by Damon
• 4,960 points
479 views
0 votes
1 answer

Explanation of function pointers

It's a little perplexing. Function type and pointer to function type are distinct kinds (no more similar than int and pointer to int).  However, in virtually all cases, a function type decays to a reference to a function type.  In this context, rotting roughly refers to conversion (there is a difference between type conversion and decaying, but you are probably not interested in it right now). What matters is that practically every time you use a function type, you end up with a reference to the function type.  But take note of the nearly - almost every time is not always! And there are rare circumstances where it does not. typedef void(functionPtr)(int); functionPtr fun = function; This code tries to clone one function to another (not the pointer! the function!)  However, this is not feasible since functions in C++ cannot be copied.  The compiler does not let this, and I'm surprised you got it compiled (you say you got linker errors?) Now for the code: typedef void(functionPtr)(int); functionPtr function; function(5); function does ...READ MORE

answered Jun 21, 2022 in C++ by Damon
• 4,960 points
482 views
0 votes
1 answer

In C++ abs( *a - *b) does not return absolute value of negative number

On the first line, you reallocated *a, and it is now utilising that new value on the second line.  int origa = *a; *a = abs(origa + ...READ MORE

answered Jun 27, 2022 in C++ by Damon
• 4,960 points
672 views
0 votes
0 answers

C++ pointer to objects

Is it always necessary in C++ to  ...READ MORE

Jun 27, 2022 in C++ by Nicholas
• 7,760 points
475 views
webinar REGISTER FOR FREE WEBINAR X
REGISTER NOW
webinar_success Thank you for registering Join Edureka Meetup community for 100+ Free Webinars each month JOIN MEETUP GROUP