Functions

Today,  I conclude my treatise about the rules for functions in the C++ core guidelines. The last post was about the syntax of function parameters and return values. This post, with its roughly 15 rules, is about their semantics.

You have many choices to pass function parameters. You can pass by value or by reference. A reference can be const or non-const. You can even move or forward your parameters.  Your decision should depend on if it is an in, and out, an in-out, a consume, or a forward function parameter. Curious? Read the post!

Functions are the "fundamental building block of programs."  and "the most critical part in most interfaces."  These statements introduce the rules to function of the C++ core guidelines. Of course, both statements are right. So, let's dive deeper into the more than 30 rules for defining functions, passing arguments to functions, and returning values from functions.