Const (computer programming): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:44, 11 May 2005

Revision as of 00:18, 12 May 2005

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===Loop-holes to <code>const</code>-correctness===

There are two loop-holes to pure <code>const</code>-correctness in C and C++. whichThey exist primarily for compatibility with existing code.

The first, which applies only to C++, is the use of <code>const_cast</code>, which allows the programmer to strip the <code>const</code> qualifier, making any object modifiable. The necessity of stripping the qualifier arises when using existing code and libraries that cannot be modified but which are not <code>const</code>-correct. For instance, consider this code:

<code>

// Prototype for a function which we cannot change but which

// we know does not modify the pointee passed in.

void LibraryFunc( int * ptr, int size );