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PODoes it ever make sense to make a fundamental (non-pointer) parameter const?
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  1. PODoes it ever make sense to make a fundamental (non-pointer) parameter const?
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    copied!<p>I recently had an exchange with another C++ developer about the following use of <code>const</code>:</p> <pre><code>void Foo(const int bar); </code></pre> <p>He felt that using <code>const</code> in this way was good practice.</p> <p>I argued that it does nothing for the caller of the function (since a copy of the argument was going to be passed, there is no additional guarantee of safety with regard to overwrite). In addition, doing this prevents the implementer of <code>Foo</code> from modifying their private copy of the argument. So, it both mandates and advertises an implementation detail.</p> <p>Not the end of the world, but certainly not something to be recommended as <em>good practice</em>.</p> <p>I'm curious as to what others think on this issue.</p> <h3>Edit:</h3> <p>OK, I didn't realize that const-ness of the arguments didn't factor into the signature of the function. So, it is possible to mark the arguments as <code>const</code> in the implementation (.cpp), and not in the header (.h) - and the compiler is fine with that. That being the case, I guess the policy should be the same for making local variables const. </p> <p>One could make the argument that having different <em>looking</em> signatures in the header and source file would confuse others (as it would have confused me). While I try to follow the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_least_astonishment" rel="noreferrer">Principle of Least Astonishment</a> with whatever I write, I guess it's reasonable to expect developers to recognize this as legal and useful.</p>
 

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