Help Please!!!

[vlad from moscow]

@Anmol444
I dont quite understand the part in the Note, (still dont understand the reference part)

If to return to my example then consider lines

   A a1;
   a1.f(); // void f() is called
   // other lines are skipped
   const A &ra = a1;
   ra.f(); // void f() const is called 

Here object a1 is defined as non-const while reference ra is defined as const. Reference ra refers object a1. It is a const reference (JLBorges calls it utter nonsense:)). So you may not to call non-const methods of object a1 through const reference ra. The compiler in this case considers underlaying object as a const object that is it restricts access to the underlying object allowing to use only const methods. The object itself is non-const as before.

[JLBorges]

A reference is inherently const, so some semantic leeway is possible: when someone says const reference, one can interpret that the intent was to say reference to const.

A pointer is not necessarily const: when someone says const pointer, one can't interpret that the intent was to say pointer to const. A const pointer, and a pointer to const are distinct (and both are possible).

And when someone says

vlad from moscow wrote:

.... but if if an object is referenced by a const reference or a const pointer it can access only methods with the qualifier const.

one can only conclude that the person is talking through his or her hat.

[vlad from moscow]

@JLBorges

If you have some difficulties in interpreting the term const reference widely used in the C++ Standard it is your problem. As any entity reference can be declared as const or non-const that is its declaration either contains the qualifier const or not. And when a declaration of a reference contains qualifier const it is called const reference.

[vlad from moscow]

As for the words const pointer I agree that there is some confusion. But usually it is clear from the context what these words mean.

[JLBorges]

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[vlad from moscow]

Let your quotation will be the Last Word.:)

[keskiverto]

Now that the discussion has advanced to various nuances of standards, I might as well ask:

Whose idea was it to include these two bad boys:

const int a = 1;
int const b = 1;

[JLBorges]

> Whose idea was it to include these two bad boys:

Stroustrup?

Pre-standard C and C++ imposed few (if any) ordering rules on specifiers.
I don't remember any deep thoughts or involved discussions about the order at the time.
...
The earliest (C or C++) code using "const" appears to have been created (by me)..

http://www.stroustrup.com/bs_faq2.html#constplacement

[Anmol444]

@vlad from moscow
But the thing is that I never declared any reference so why is the compiler saying that? Well whatever for now, I understand whats needed but any more information to further extend my understanding is definitely appreciated but not necessary.

[keskiverto]

Not explicitly. Attempting to call a non-const method implies that you should have non-const object.