Complex Declarations in C++

Declaration

Let us see some declarations in C++:

1. int age = 21; This is a simple declaration in which we have declared an integer variable named age whose value is 21.

2. int *ptr; In this declaration, we have declared an integer pointer ptr.

3. int* ptr1, ptr2; In this declaration, we have declared an integer pointer ptr1 and an integer variable ptr2.

4. int* ptr1, *ptr2; In this declaration, we have declared two integer pointers ptr1 and ptr2.

5. int *ptr[5]; In this declaration, we have declared an array of 5 pointers to integers.

Introduction

We have seen simple declarations in C++ like int val; but there are complex declarations in C++ too like declarations involving pointers, for example, consider the following declaration char (*ptr) (), it represents a pointer to a function returning char.

The Const Modifier

In C++, the const keyword prevents a variable from being modified and when we declare a const variable we need to initialize it because we cannot initialize it after declaration. Also, const could be used with function declaration to restrict function parameters to change.

For Example :

• const int age = 21; // integer constant variable with value 21
• int const age = 21; // same meaning as above, C++ allows both types of declaration.

The examples discussed above are simple to understand but things become a little complicated when pointers are involved with the const keyword. Let us understand through a few examples:

• const int *ptr1; // pointer to a constant integer.
• int const *ptr2; // same meaning as above, C++ allows both types of declaration.

The Use of Typedef

In C++, typedef stands for type definition, which is a keyword used to assign a new name to the pre-existing datatype. For example, there is a datatype in C++ long long int and suppose it is used many times in the code then instead of writing this big word again and again we can use typedef to shorten the name like typedef long long int ll;, now we can use ll instead of long long int in the code.

typedef can also be used while declaring a structure in C++. For example:

Now to declare a variable of type student we can do in the following way stu s; instead of struct student s;

Function pointers

Pointers are used to point to variables, similarly, function pointers are used to point to functions.

For example:

• int (*funptr) (int, int) The above line means there is a function pointer named funptr which points to a function which accepts two integer arguments and its return type is an integer.

• int (*ptr) (float) The above line means there is a function pointer named ptr which points to a function which accepts one float argument and its return type is an integer.

We can call a function using function pointer, for example consider the below code.

Output:

The Right-Left Rule

There is a simple rule that helps us to read any declaration in C++ :

• Convert the given declaration into postfix form.
• To convert an expression into postfix form, begin at the innermost parentheses and go right. If the innermost parenthesis is missing, begin at the declaration's name and go right. When you reach the end of the parentheses, go to the left. Come out of parentheses once the entire parentheses have been parsed.
• Continue the process until the whole declaration is finished.
• Once the declaration is converted into postfix form read it from left to right.

Examples