What is standalone function?

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What is the meaning of the term “free function” in C++?

I am not sure what a standalone function is.

Is it inside the class or same as normal function outside the main and class?

It's not a formal term. We've got a reasonable idea, but we'd probably call it a _free_ function. — MSalters, Oct 09 '12 at 07:01

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 09 '12 at 06:59

6

A stand-alone function is just a normal function that is not a member of any class and is in a global namespace. For example, this is a member function:

class SomeClass
{
public:
    SomeClass add( SomeClass other );
};
SomeClass::add( SomeClass other )
{
    <...>
}

And this is a stand-alone one:

SomeClass add( SomeClass one, SomeClass two );

answered Oct 09 '12 at 06:59

SingerOfTheFall

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so the standalone function type must be the class? or like the normal function, you can name anything and get data from main? – Rex Rau Oct 09 '12 at 07:45
@Rex, no it can be anything, this is just a random example ;) – SingerOfTheFall Oct 09 '12 at 08:01

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 09 '12 at 07:00

3

A stand-alone function is typically

A global function which doesn't belong to any class or namespace.
Serves a single purpose of doing something (like a utility, say strcpy())

They should be used judiciously as too much of those will clutter the code.

answered Oct 09 '12 at 07:00

iammilind

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Nawaz · Answer 3 · 2012-10-09T07:50:15.890

3

A standalone function is one which doesn't depend on any visible state:

int max(int a, int b) { return a > b ? a : b; }

Here max is a standalone function.

Standalone functions are stateless. In C++, they're referred to as free functions.

edited Oct 09 '12 at 07:50

answered Oct 09 '12 at 07:00

Nawaz

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What is standalone function?

3 Answers3