What are some advanced examples of const parameters in C++?

What are some advanced examples of const parameters in C++?

In C++, const parameters can be used to prevent modification of arguments. For example, you can pass a const reference to avoid copying large objects.

Can you show me a code example of that?

Sure! Here's an example:

void processData(const std::vector<int>& data) {
    // data cannot be modified here
    for (const auto& value : data) {
        std::cout << value << " ";
    }
}

This function takes a const reference to a vector, ensuring the original vector isn't altered.

What about using const with pointers?

Great question! You can have a pointer to a const value, which means you can't change the value being pointed to:

void displayValue(const int* ptr) {
    std::cout << *ptr;
}

Here, ptr points to a constant integer, and you can't modify the integer through this pointer.

Are there any performance benefits to using const parameters?

Yes, using const parameters can improve performance by avoiding unnecessary copies of large objects, especially in functions that take complex data types.