need an explanation on a function decoration

[Onix]

Hi guys,

I'm reading a code and I saw this function decoration for a test class
(in the test.h file)

const int *getitem() const;

The associated one in test.cpp file

const int *test::getitem() const {return &blah; }

What I want to know is the role of each "const" here. I'm confused. If
anyone can help, I really appreciate

 

[lbonafide]

const int *test::getitem() const {return &blah; }

The first const means getitem() returns a const int *, the second
means getitem() can't modify any of test's member variables.

 

[Abhishek Padmanabh]

Hi guys,

I'm reading a code and I saw this function decoration for a test class
(in the test.h file)

const int *getitem() const;

The associated one in test.cpp file

const int *test::getitem() const {return &blah; }

What I want to know is the role of each "const" here. I'm confused. If
anyone can help, I really appreciate

The first const (going from left to right) together with int* means,
it is a pointer to const int (or a const array of int - pointer to its
first item). The second const says that the member function getitem()
does not change the non-mutable state of the object. That is, getitem
will not modify anything in the object and hence, the state of the
objects remains the same before and after the call to getitem(). See
the FAQ as well : http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/const-correctness.html

 

[Onix]

The first const (going from left to right) together with int* means,
it is a pointer to const int (or a const array of int - pointer to its
first item). The second const says that the member function getitem()
does not change the non-mutable state of the object. That is, getitem
will not modify anything in the object and hence, the state of the
objects remains the same before and after the call to getitem(). See
the FAQ as well :http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/const-correctness.html

Thanks, that really clears things up