Thread: Beginner's Question

  1. #1
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    Beginner's Question

    I was just reading through C++ Annotations and I am at the point where the author is starting with classes. I noticed that the author declares one of the member functions

    Code:
    std::string const &name() const;
    and I was wondering what would be the ultimate difference if

    Code:
    std::string const name() const;
    was used instead. The function just returns the name but I am curious as to what this would mean with a more complex function.

    Thanks in advance,

    M

  2. #2
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    Oh, is the & symbol referring to the return value? This might just be a reading issue for me but I just wanted to make sure.

    M

  3. #3
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Yes, it says that name() returns a const reference.
    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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    Thank you much.

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