what's the use of "const char*" as a parameter?

[Virtual_X]

some function make the data type of it's parameters as "const char*"

why not use char or char* instead
what would be different

 

[Victor Bazarov]

some function make the data type of it's parameters as "const char*"

why not use char or char* instead
what would be different

The type 'char' can only help passing a _single_ character.

The type 'char*' can help passing an array of non-constant characters.

The type 'const char*' helps passing an array of constant characters.

It means the function needs an array (often it's a C-string), and the
function promises that it will not change the contents of the array.

V

 

[Rolf Magnus]

The type 'char' can only help passing a _single_ character.

The type 'char*' can help passing an array of non-constant characters.

The type 'const char*' helps passing an array of constant characters.

It means the function needs an array (often it's a C-string),

Even though it usually does need one for the case of pointers to char, the
declaration doesn't mean that. The function gets a pointer to a single
char. It's just a convention between the function and the caller that this
actually points to the first element of an array.

 

[subscription.gupta]

A function which parameter is const char *, it can accept char * and
const char * type of argument.

But if function's parameter is only char *, it will give a compilation
error when you try to
pass a const char *.

 

[Default User]

A function which parameter is const char *, it can accept char * and
const char * type of argument.

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