CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++c
Roddy
Roddy

Reputation: 68033

Does C++ allow default return types for functions?

In C the following horror is valid:

myFunc()
{
  return 42;  // return type defaults to int.
}

But, what about in C++? I can't find a reference to it either way...

My compiler (Codegear C++Builder 2007) currently accepts it without warning, but I've had comments that this is an error in C++.

Upvotes: 6

Views: 5341

Answers (5)

Roddy
Roddy

Reputation: 68033

So, it's definitely 'ill formed' C++, but it seems many compilers accept it with a warning at best.

  • Codegear C++Builder 2007: No error or warning at all
  • G++: Requires -W -Wall to generate warning , or -pedantic to generate error (Piotr)
  • MSVC 8: produces an error (tfinniga)
  • others...?

Please add to/correct this list!

Upvotes: 5

tfinniga
tfinniga

Reputation: 6849

As posted, it is ill-formed. MSVC 8 gives the following error:

error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int

Upvotes: 2

John Dibling
John Dibling

Reputation: 101456

This is not legal C++, but some compilers will accept it either silently or with a diagnostic.

Upvotes: 2

James Hopkin
James Hopkin

Reputation: 13973

Implicit return types are valid in C89, but a lot of compilers warn about it.

They are not valid in C++, nor in C99.

Upvotes: 10

Johannes Schaub - litb
Johannes Schaub - litb

Reputation: 506925

It's ill-formed in C++. Meaning that it doesn't compile with a standard conforming compiler. Paragraph 7.1.5/4 in Annex C of the Standard explains the change "Banning implicit int".

Upvotes: 20

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