CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++
cfalck
cfalck

Reputation: 31

Return type out-of-line definition differs from that in the declaration

First time asking so be gentle.

I am having a problem with a returning a custom type for a function. To be more specific, I have a linked list, and I am writing a function that traverses to the end of the list and returns a pointer to that node. Unfortunately, I am getting a pesky error:

"Return type out-of-line definition of mySpace::CDAL::tailNode differs from that in the declaration"

The header file contains within the "mySpace" namespace and the template class CDAL

private:

struct Node
{....};

the function header 

Node* tailNode();

and in the .cpp

template <typename T>
struct Node* mySpace::CDAL<T>::tailNode()
{...}

I tried using struct because someone had mentioned for non-typedef declarations you sometimes would need it, and I no longer received the unknown type error, but received this instead.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 8016

Answers (1)

David G
David G

Reputation: 96810

Node is declared within mySpace::CDAL<T> so its name has to be qualified in the definition:

template <typename T>
struct typename mySpace::CDAL<T>::Node* mySpace::CDAL<T>::tailNode()
{...}

struct also isn't needed. Taking it out won't make a difference.

Upvotes: 2

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