Declaring a member function with the const keyword specifies that the function is a "read-only" function that does not modify the object for which it is called.
To declare a constant member function, place the const keyword after the closing parenthesis of the argument list. The const keyword is required in both the declaration and the definition. A constant member function cannot modify any data members or call any member functions that aren't constant.
// constant_member_function.cpp class Date { public: Date( int mn, int dy, int yr ); int getMonth() const; // A read-only function void setMonth( int mn ); // A write function; can't be const private: int month; }; int Date::getMonth() const { return month; // Doesn't modify anything } void Date::setMonth( int mn ) { month = mn; // Modifies data member } int main() { Date MyDate( 7, 4, 1998 ); const Date BirthDate( 1, 18, 1953 ); MyDate.setMonth( 4 ); // Okay BirthDate.getMonth(); // Okay BirthDate.setMonth( 4 ); // C2662 Error }