Differences between these two pointers

[Hanske]

Hello,

I'm going through some interesting exercises and would like to ask a bundle of questions as I go through the problems.

Here is my first question: what is exactly the difference between:

//1.cpp

int main ()
{
int *k=0;

const int* const &i=k; //*
// and
const int * const i=k; //**
}

both compile and seem to be valid, but how exactly?. How would one in words say what * is? Is it a dereferenced constant pointer pointing to a constant?

** is just a constant pointer pointing to a constant integer. Meaning, it is also a null pointer.

Also, when one complies with g++ c- 1.cpp. Would there be any issue with the object file?

[Peter87]

* is a reference to const pointer to a const int.

[Hanske]

Ah yes. Thank you.

Next question:

would

const double f();

be legitimate? Does the const do anything? I would say no since after every time the function is called the function is terminated and the memory in the stack is removed. Is that correct?

[Peter87]

Yes. It's legal, but it doesn't make a difference.