Functions with arguments by reference

[krad23]

Is there any actual difference between these 3 function declarations?

int f(int x) {
return x;
}

int f(int &x) {
return x;
}

int f(const int &x) {
return x;
}

[helios]

Yes, the parameter types are different.

[krad23]

they look different, duh! but i don't see any functional difference when using either of them

[AbstractionAnon]

You asked the same question here:
http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/beginner/145815/
JLBorges gave you an excellent answer.

Why are you asking the same question again?

[anup30]

you created same topic twice at the same time. other topic answers are right.

but, only the above code snippets isn't meaningful,
because from another function, int n = f(5); why? instead int n=5;

they will be meaningful if expanded,

int f(int x) {
x++; // change doesn't effect in caller function
cout << x;
return 5;
}

void f(int &x) {
x=x+2; // change effects in caller function
}

int f(const int &x) {
--x; // illegal, you cant change x
return x;
}

[krad23]

Oh, sorry for the double post, I didn't even see there was a 2nd question created. No idea why that happened