Thread: Why return a const value from a function?

  1. #1
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    Why return a const value from a function?

    I understand why a function is marked as const but why can you also return a const value from a function? It doesn't make it unchangeable. For example:

    Code:
    const int getInt()
    {
         const int i = 1;
         return i;
    }
    
    //in main function
    int f = getInt();
    
    //This will work
    f += 2;
    So what's the purpose? And how would I mark a variable returned as unchangeable? (Is the only way to mark the local variable I'm putting it into as const?)

  2. #2
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 6tr6tr View Post
    I understand why a function is marked as const but why can you also return a const value from a function? It doesn't make it unchangeable. For example:
    There is never a need to return a "const" anything unless it is returned by reference or pointer. The writer of the code snippet might have been trying to emphasize that what the function returns is some "constant" (since it's returning the value of i, which is a const), but it's not necessary and not something I would do.

    EDIT: Accidentally wrote "value" instead of "pointer" in the above paragraph.
    Last edited by brewbuck; 04-10-2008 at 08:57 AM.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by brewbuck View Post
    There is never a need to return a "const" anything unless it is returned by reference or value. The writer of the code snippet might have been trying to emphasize that what the function returns is some "constant" (since it's returning the value of i, which is a const), but it's not necessary and not something I would do.
    Thanks. I thought it was a little strange.

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