C++ - Why static member function can't be created with 'const' qualifier
Today I got a problem. I am in the need of a static
member function, const
is not a must but a better. But, I didn't succeed in my efforts. Can anybody say why or how?
When you apply the const
qualifier to a nonstatic member function, it affects the this
pointer. For a const-qualified member function of class C
, the this
pointer is of type C const*
, whereas for a member function that is not const-qualified, the this
pointer is of type C*
.
A static member function does not have a this
pointer (such a function is not called on a particular instance of a class), so const qualification of a static member function doesn't make any sense.
I agree with your question, but unfortunately the C++ is designed that way. For example:
class A {
int i; //<--- accessed with 'this'
static int s; //<---- accessed without 'this'
public:
static void foo () const // <-- imaginary const
{}
};
As of today, the const
is considered in context of this
. In a way, it's narrow. It can be made broader by applying this const
beyond this
pointer.
i.e. the "proposed" const
, which may also apply to static
functions, will restrict the static
members from any modification.
In the example code, if foo()
can be made const
, then in that function, A::s
cannot be modified. I can't see any language side effects, if this rule is added to standard. On the contrary, it's amusing that why such rule doesn't exist!
It is unfortunate that C++ doesn't accept it as per design but logically there are few use cases in which it validates well.
A function which is class level valid(static) might not change any static data, may be it will just query data should be const. May be it should be like
if(Object)
MakeThisConstant()
else
MakeStaticDataConstant() // Only in the scope but static data cannot be constant so may be it should in some scenarios