Why const does not work

Question

class Student{
public:
    Student();
    Student(string name, int score);
    string getName();
    int getScore();
    void insert(string name, int score);
    friend ostream& operator<<(ostream& os, const Student& student){
        os << "Name: "<<student.name<<",Score:"<<student.score<<endl;
        return os;
    }
 private:
    string name;
    int score;

};


string Student::getName(){
    return name;
}
int Student::getScore(){
    return score;
}

I define above class

and main function I define a comparison function

int compStudent(const Student &student1, const Student &student2){
    int score1 = student1.getScore();
    int score2 = student2.getScore();
    if(score1 == score2) return 0;
    if(score1<score2) return -1;
    return 1;
}

Then the error is said this argument is const but function is not const.

Then I delete the const, it works why?

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:43

3

To be able to call getScore() on a const object, the method needs to be declared const:

class Student{
    ...
    int getScore() const;
    ...
};


int Student::getScore() const {
    return score;
}

See Meaning of "const" last in a C++ method declaration? for a discussion.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:43

Community

1
1

answered Feb 19 '15 at 08:02

NPE

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 19 '15 at 08:04

The line

int score1 = student1.getScore();

calls the getScore() method on student1, which is a const reference. But the getScore() method is not a const method (it doesn't promise not to modify student1).

To fix this, modify the method to indicate it is const:

class Student {
    // ...
    int getScore() const;
    // ...
};

Why const does not work

2 Answers2