6.3Return Types and the return Statement &6.5Overloaded functions

• Hence, the form of a function that returns a pointer to an array is: 

  Type (*function(parameter_list))[dimension]

  C++11:

  trailing return type:

  auto func(int) -> int(*) [10];

  Using decltype:

  int odd[] = {1,3,5,7,9};
  int even[] = {0,2,4,6,8};
  // returns a pointer to an array of five int elements

  decltype(odd) *arrPtr(int i) 

  
  

•  A parameter that has a top-level const is indistinguishable from one without a top-level const: 

  Record lookup(Phone);
  Record lookup(const Phone); // redeclares Record lookup(Phone)
  Record lookup(Phone*);
  Record lookup(Phone* const); // redeclares Record lookup(Phone*)

  
  

  In these declarations, the second declaration declares the same function as the first.

  On the other hand, we can overload based on whether the parameter is a reference(or pointer) to the const or nonconst version of a given type; such consts are low-level: 

  // functions taking const and nonconst references or pointers have different parameters
  // declarations for four independent, overloaded functions
  Record lookup(Account&); // function that takes a reference to Account
  Record lookup(const Account&); // new function that takes a const reference
  Record lookup(Account*); // new function, takes a pointer to Account
  Record lookup(const Account*); // new function, takes a pointer to const
  

  
  
  

• We may define defaults for one ormore parameters. However, if a parameter has a default argument, all the parametersthat follow it must also have default arguments. 

  
  

• The default arguments are used for thetrailing (right-most) arguments of a call. 

  Part of the work of designing a function with default arguments is ordering theparameters so that those least likely to use a default value appear first and thosemost likely to use a default appear last.