Const Expression in c++

NOTE: this is just copy-pasting from stackoverflow and some textbooks, see references below.

const: meaning roughly “I promise not to change this value.” This is used primarily to specify interfaces so that data can be passed to functions using pointers and references without fear of it being modified. The compiler enforces the promise made by const. The value of a const can be calculated at runtime.
constexpr: meaning roughly “to be evaluated at compile time.” This is used primarily to specify constants, to allow placement of data in read-only memory (where it is unlikely to be corrupted), and for performance. The value of a constexpr must be calculated by the compiler.

You should read from right to left. This is refered to as clockwise/spiral rule

int * pointer to int
int const * == const int * pointer to const int
int * const const pointer to int
int const * const == const * const const pointer to const int

and …

int ** pointer to pointer to int
int ** const const pointer to pointer to int
int * const * pointer to const pointer to int
int const ** pointer to pointer to const int
int * const * const const pointer to const pointer to int.

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52


int times2(int a){
    return a*2;
}

constexpr int times2_c(int a){
    return a*2;
}

// constexpr function can also be used for non-constant arguments;
// constexpr function should be simple and should not modify non-local variables;


// this is (supposed to be) a constexpr function 
// but not implemented with the declaration.
constexpr int times2_c2(int a); 


int main(){
    // using constant expression is ok.
    const int c1 = 10;
    constexpr int c_expr1 = 11;

    // using another const is ok.
    const int c2 = c1 + 2;
    constexpr int c_expr2 = c1+2;

    // const can be calculated at runtime, constexpr can not.
    const int c3 = times2(c2);
    const int c4 = times2(c2);

    constexpr int c_expr3 = times2(1); // this is an error
    constexpr int c_expr4 = times2(c2); // this is an error

    // using a constant expr function: 
    int v = 1;
    const int c5 = times2_c(1);
    const int c6 = times2_c(c2);
    constexpr int c_expr5 = times2_c(1);  // this is ok.
    constexpr int c_expr6 = times2_c(c2); // this is ok, because both times2_c and c2 are constant expr
    constexpr int c_expr7 = times2_c(v);  // this is an error, because v is not constant

    // using a constexpr function, but not implemented at the beginning
    const int c7 = times2_c2(1);
    constexpr int c_expr8 = times2_c2(1); // this is an error.

    return 0;
}


constexpr int times2_c2(int a){
    return a*2;
}

ref: A tour of C++
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1143262/what-is-the-difference-between-const-int-const-int-const-and-int-const

[+] click to leave a comment [+]

the comment system on this blog works via email. The button
below will generate a mailto: link based on this page's url 
and invoke your email client - please edit the comment there!

[optional] even better, encrypt the email with my public key

- don't modify the subject field
- specify a nickname, otherwise your comment will be shown as   
  anonymous
- your email address will not be disclosed
- you agree that the comment is to be made public.
- to take down a comment, send the request via email.

>> SEND COMMENT <<