Issue 0040.01: What is the composite type of f(int) and f(const int)?

This issue has been automatically converted from the original issue lists and some formatting may not have been preserved.

Authors: Derek M. Jones, WG14
Date: 1992-12-10
Reference document: X3J11/91-062
Submitted against: C90
Status: Fixed
Fixed in: C90 TC1
Cross-references: 0013.01
Converted from: dr.htm, dr_040.html

Composite type

Rule for function parameter compatibility, subclause 6.7,1, page 82, lines 24-25:

void f(const int);
 void f(int a)
 {
 a = 4;
 }

In the above case what is the composite type of f? The legality of the assignment to a depends on the answer.

int f(int a[4]);
 int f(int a[5]);

The parameters are compatible because they are converted to pointer to ..., but what is the composite type?

Comment from WG14 on 1997-09-23:

Response

void f(const int);
 void f(int a)
 {
 a = 4;
 }

What is the composite type of f?

Answer: void f(int). Defect Report #013, Question 1 describes the correct manner for constructing the composite type.

Is the assignment valid?

Answer: Yes. The type of a parameter is independent of the composite type of the function, so the assignment is valid (cf. subclause 6.7.1).

Another example:

int f(int a[4]);
 int f(int a[5]);

The parameters are compatible because they are converted to pointer to ..., but what is the composite type?

Answer: The response to the Defect Report mentioned above answers this question as well.