Thread: Changing constant value by pointer variable

  1. #1
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    Changing constant value by pointer variable

    Hi guys.
    I'm wondering if it's possible that when I declare an constant value and I point to it by pointer variable (not constant pointer variable) ... is it legible and possible to change the value that Im pointing at?

    I mean for example lets assume
    Code:
     const int var=10
    so if I point to this value by integer pointer variable (not constant pointer) will the value that Im pointing at (the value var) change?


    another question in the same context, if I have pointer variable which it's constant (i.e like
    Code:
     int const *ptr
    ) so I can't change the value that ptr is pointing at
    by ptr pointer, but I can declare another pointer variable like int *ptr2 and let it points to the
    same value and then I can change the value by ptr2 pointer .. right?
    in other words
    Code:
     int const *ptr
    is a constant regarding to ptr itself but I can declare another
    pointer variable which it's not const and change the value that ptr pointing at by
    the new pointer variable .. right?
    Last edited by JohnnyOmari; 12-09-2020 at 02:30 AM.

  2. #2
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JohnnyOmari
    so if I point to this value by integer pointer variable (not constant pointer) will the value that Im pointing at (the value var) change?
    I believe that you will get undefined behaviour. If you compile at a high enough warning level, your compiler should warn you about this though, and while you could suppress that warning with a cast, you'll then be taking responsibility for the potential undefined behaviour. Having said that, such casting does have its uses with legacy APIs that might not be const-correct.

    Quote Originally Posted by JohnnyOmari
    but I can declare another pointer variable like int *ptr2 and let it points to the
    same value and then I can change the value by ptr2 pointer .. right?
    Yes, assuming that what ptr2 points to isn't actually constant, otherwise you risk undefined behaviour. So, it is not advisable to do this: it would be better to change ptr2 to be a pointer to non-const instead, and if you cannot do so, then it is a good hint that perhaps what ptr2 points to might really be constant, so you should not attempt to bypass the const-ness.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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