Consider:
int testfunc1 (const int a)
{
return a;
}
int testfunc2 (int const a)
{
return a;
}
Are these two functions the same in every aspect or is there a difference?
I'm interested in an answer for the C language, but if there is something interesting in the C++ language, I'd like to know as well.
The trick is to read the declaration backwards (right-to-left):
const int a = 1; // read as "a is an integer which is constant"
int const a = 1; // read as "a is a constant integer"
Both are the same thing. Therefore:
a = 2; // Can't do because a is constant
The reading backwards trick especially comes in handy when you're dealing with more complex declarations such as:
const char *s; // read as "s is a pointer to a char that is constant"
char c;
char *const t = &c; // read as "t is a constant pointer to a char"
*s = 'A'; // Can't do because the char is constant
s++; // Can do because the pointer isn't constant
*t = 'A'; // Can do because the char isn't constant
t++; // Can't do because the pointer is constant