Function declaration

A function declaration introduces the function name and its type. A function definition associates the function name/type with the function body.

attr - (since C++11) a list of attributes. These attributes are applied to the type of the function, not the function itself. The attributes for the function appear after the identifier within the declarator and are combined with the attributes that appear in the beginning of the declaration, if any.

cv - const/volatile qualification, only allowed in non-static member function declarations

ref - (since C++11) ref-qualification, only allowed in non-static member function declarations

except

-

dynamic exception specification	(until C++11)
either dynamic exception specification or noexcept specification	(since C++11) (until C++17)
noexcept specification	(since C++17)

trailing - Trailing return type, useful if the return type depends on argument names, such as template<class T, class U> auto add(T t, U u) -> decltype(t + u); or is complicated, such as in auto fpif(int)->int(*)(int)

As mentioned in Declarations, the declarator can be followed by a requires clause, which declares the associated constraints for the function, which must be satisfied in order for the function to be selected by overload resolution. (example: void f1(int a) requires true;) Note that the associated constraint is part of function signature, but not part of function type.

(since C++20)

Function declarators can be mixed with other declarators, where the declaration specifier sequence allows:

// declares an int, an int*, a function, and a pointer to a function
int a = 1, *p = NULL, f(), (*pf)(double);
// decl-specifier-seq is int
// declarator f() declares (but doesn't define)
//                a function taking no arguments and returning int
 
struct S
{
    virtual int f(char) const, g(int) &&; // declares two non-static member functions
    virtual int f(char), x; // compile-time error: virtual (in decl-specifier-seq)
                            // is only allowed in declarations of non-static
                            // member functions
};

Using a volatile-qualified object type as parameter type or return type is deprecated.

(since C++20)

The return type of a function cannot be a function type or an array type (but can be a pointer or reference to those).

As with any declaration, attributes that appear before the declaration and the attributes that appear immediately after the identifier within the declarator both apply to the entity being declared or defined (in this case, to the function):

[[noreturn]] void f [[noreturn]] (); // OK: both attributes apply to the function f

However, the attributes that appear after the declarator (in the syntax above), apply to the type of the function, not to the function itself:

void f() [[noreturn]]; // Error: this attribute has no effect on the function itself

(since C++11)

Return type deduction

If the decl-specifier-seq of the function declaration contains the keyword auto, trailing return type may be omitted, and will be deduced by the compiler from the type of the expression used in the return statement. If the return type does not use decltype(auto), the deduction follows the rules of template argument deduction:

int x = 1;
auto f() { return x; }        // return type is int
const auto& f() { return x; } // return type is const int&

If the return type is decltype(auto), the return type is as what would be obtained if the expression used in the return statement were wrapped in decltype:

int x = 1;
decltype(auto) f() { return x; }  // return type is int, same as decltype(x)
decltype(auto) f() { return(x); } // return type is int&, same as decltype((x))

(note: “const decltype(auto)&” is an error, decltype(auto) must be used on its own)

If there are multiple return statements, they must all deduce to the same type:

auto f(bool val)
{
    if (val) return 123; // deduces return type int
    else return 3.14f;   // Error: deduces return type float
}

If there is no return statement or if the argument of the return statement is a void expression, the declared return type must be either decltype(auto), in which case the deduced return type is void, or (possibly cv-qualified) auto, in which case the deduced return type is then (identically cv-qualified) void:

auto f() {}              // returns void
auto g() { return f(); } // returns void
auto* x() {}             // Error: cannot deduce auto* from void

Once a return statement has been seen in a function, the return type deduced from that statement can be used in the rest of the function, including in other return statements:

auto sum(int i)
{
    if (i == 1)
        return i;              // sum’s return type is int
    else
        return sum(i - 1) + i; // OK: sum’s return type is already known
}

If the return statement uses a brace-enclosed initializer list, deduction is not allowed:

auto func() { return {1, 2, 3}; } // Error

Virtual functions and coroutines(since C++20) cannot use return type deduction:

struct F
{
    virtual auto f() { return 2; } // Error
};

Function templates other than user-defined conversion functions can use return type deduction. The deduction takes place at instantiation even if the expression in the return statement is not dependent. This instantiation is not in an immediate context for the purposes of SFINAE.

template<class T>
auto f(T t) { return t; }
typedef decltype(f(1)) fint_t;    // instantiates f<int> to deduce return type
 
template<class T>
auto f(T* t) { return *t; }
void g() { int (*p)(int*) = &f; } // instantiates both fs to determine return types,
                                  // chooses second template overload

Redeclarations or specializations of functions or function templates that use return type deduction must use the same return type placeholders:

auto f(int num) { return num; }
// int f(int num);            // Error: no placeholder return type
// decltype(auto) f(int num); // Error: different placeholder
 
template<typename T>
auto g(T t) { return t; }
template auto g(int);     // OK: return type is int
// template char g(char); // Error: not a specialization of the primary template g

Similarly, redeclarations or specializations of functions or function templates that do not use return type deduction must not use a placeholder:

int f(int num);
// auto f(int num) { return num; } // Error: not a redeclaration of f
 
template<typename T>
T g(T t) { return t; }
template int g(int);      // OK: specialize T as int
// template auto g(char); // Error: not a specialization of the primary template g

Explicit instantiation declarations do not themselves instantiate function templates that use return type deduction:

template<typename T>
auto f(T t) { return t; }
extern template auto f(int); // does not instantiate f<int>
 
int (*p)(int) = f; // instantiates f<int> to determine its return type,
                   // but an explicit instantiation definition 
                   // is still required somewhere in the program

(since C++14)

[edit] Parameter list

Parameter list determines the arguments that can be specified when the function is called. It is a comma-separated list of parameter declarations, each of which has the following syntax:


attr (optional) decl-specifier-seq declarator	(1)

attr (optional) `this` decl-specifier-seq declarator	(2)	(since C++23)

attr (optional) decl-specifier-seq declarator `=` initializer	(3)

attr (optional) decl-specifier-seq abstract-declarator (optional)	(4)

attr (optional) `this` decl-specifier-seq abstract-declarator (optional)	(5)	(since C++23)

attr (optional) decl-specifier-seq abstract-declarator (optional) `=` initializer	(6)

`void`	(7)

1) Declares a named (formal) parameter. For the meanings of decl-specifier-seq and declarator, see declarations.

int f(int a, int* p, int (*(*x)(double))[3]);

2) Declares a named explicit object parameter.

3) Declares a named (formal) parameter with a default value.

int f(int a = 7, int* p = nullptr, int (*(*x)(double))[3] = nullptr);

4) Declares an unnamed parameter.

int f(int, int*, int (*(*)(double))[3]);

5) Declares a unnamed explicit object parameter.

6) Declares an unnamed parameter with a default value.

int f(int = 7, int* = nullptr, int (*(*)(double))[3] = nullptr);

7) Indicates that the function takes no parameters, it is the exact synonym for an empty parameter list: int f(void); and int f(); declare the same function.

The type void (possibly cv-qualified) cannot be used in a parameter list otherwise: int f(void, int); and int f(const void); are errors (although derived types, such as void* can be used).

In a template, only non-dependent void type can be used (a function taking a single parameter of type T does not become a no-parameter function if instantiated with T = void).

An ellipsis ... may appear at the end of the parameter list; this declares a variadic function:

int printf(const char* fmt ...);

For compatibility with C89, an optional comma may appear before the ellipsis if the parameter list contains at least one parameter:

int printf(const char* fmt, ...); // OK, same as above

Although decl-specifier-seq implies there can exist specifiers other than type specifiers, the only other specifier allowed is register as well as auto(until C++11), and it has no effect.

(until C++17)

If any of the function parameters uses a placeholder (either auto or a concept type), the function declaration is instead an abbreviated function template declaration:

void f1(auto);    // same as template<class T> void f1(T)
void f2(C1 auto); // same as template<C1 T> void f2(T), if C1 is a concept

(since C++20)

A parameter declaration with the specifier this (syntax (2)/(5)) declares an explicit object parameter.

An explicit object parameter cannot be a function parameter pack, and it can only appear as the first parameter of the parameter list in the following declarations:

a declaration of a member function or member function template
an explicit instantiation or explicit specialization of a templated member function
a lambda declaration

A member function with an explicit object parameter has the following restrictions:

The function is not static.
The function is not virtual.
The declarator of the function does not contain cv and ref.

struct C
{
    void f(this C& self);     // OK
 
    template<typename Self>
    void g(this Self&& self); // also OK for templates
 
    void p(this C) const;     // Error: “const” not allowed here
    static void q(this C);    // Error: “static” not allowed here
    void r(int, this C);      // Error: an explicit object parameter
                              //        can only be the first parameter
};
 
// void func(this C& self);   // Error: non-member functions cannot have
                              //        an explicit object parameter

(since C++23)

Parameter names declared in function declarations are usually for only self-documenting purposes. They are used (but remain optional) in function definitions.

An ambiguity arises in a parameter list when a type name is nested in parentheses (including lambda expressions)(since C++11). In this case, the choice is between the declaration of a parameter of type pointer to function and the declaration of a parameter with redundant parentheses around the identifier of the declarator. The resolution is to consider the type name as a simple type specifier (which is the pointer to function type):

class C {};
 
void f(int(C)) {} // void f(int(*fp)(C param)) {}
                  // NOT void f(int C) {}
 
void g(int *(C[10])); // void g(int *(*fp)(C param[10]));
                      // NOT void g(int *C[10]);

Parameter type cannot be a type that includes a reference or a pointer to array of unknown bound, including a multi-level pointers/arrays of such types, or a pointer to functions whose parameters are such types.

The ellipsis that indicates variadic arguments need not be preceded by a comma, even if it follows the ellipsis that indicates a parameter pack expansion, so the following function templates are exactly the same:

template<typename... Args>
void f(Args..., ...);
 
template<typename... Args>
void f(Args... ...);
 
template<typename... Args>
void f(Args......);

An example of when such declaration might be used is the possible implementation of std::is_function.

Run this code

#include <cstdio>
 
template<typename... Variadic, typename... Args>
constexpr void invoke(auto (*fun)(Variadic......), Args... args)
{
    fun(args...);
}
 
int main()
{
    invoke(std::printf, "%dm•%dm•%dm = %d%s%c", 2, 3, 7, 2 * 3 * 7, "m³", '\n');
}

Output:

2m•3m•7m = 42m³

(since C++11)

[edit] Function type

[edit] Parameter-type-list

A function’s parameter-type-list is determined as follows:

The type of each parameter (including function parameter packs)(since C++11) is determined from its own parameter declaration.
After determining the type of each parameter, any parameter of type “array of T” or of function type T is adjusted to be “pointer to T”.
After producing the list of parameter types, any top-level cv-qualifiers modifying a parameter type are deleted when forming the function type.
The resulting list of transformed parameter types and the presence or absence of the ellipsis or a function parameter pack(since C++11) is the function’s parameter-type-list.

void f(char*);         // #1
void f(char[]) {}      // defines #1
void f(const char*) {} // OK, another overload
void f(char* const) {} // Error: redefines #1
 
void g(char(*)[2]);   // #2
void g(char[3][2]) {} // defines #2
void g(char[3][3]) {} // OK, another overload
 
void h(int x(const int)); // #3
void h(int (*)(int)) {}   // defines #3

[edit] Determining function type

In syntax (1), assuming noptr-declarator as a standalone declaration, given the type of the qualified-id or unqualified-id in noptr-declarator as “derived-declarator-type-list T”:

If the exception specification is non-throwing, the type of the function declared is
“derived-declarator-type-list noexcept function of
parameter-type-list cv (optional) ref (optional) returning T”.

(since C++17)

The(until C++17)Otherwise, the(since C++17) type of the function declared is
“derived-declarator-type-list function of
parameter-type-list cv (optional) ref (optional)(since C++11) returning T”.

In syntax (2), assuming noptr-declarator as a standalone declaration, given the type of the qualified-id or unqualified-id in noptr-declarator as “derived-declarator-type-list T” (T must be auto in this case):

(since C++11)

If the exception specification is non-throwing, the type of the function declared is
“derived-declarator-type-list noexcept function of
parameter-type-list cv (optional) ref (optional) returning trailing ”.

(since C++17)

The(until C++17)Otherwise, the(since C++17) type of the function declared is
“derived-declarator-type-list function of
parameter-type-list cv (optional) ref (optional) returning trailing ”.

attr, if present, applies to the function type.

(since C++11)

// the type of “f1” is
// “function of int returning void, with attribute noreturn”
void f1(int a) [[noreturn]];
 
// the type of “f2” is
// “constexpr noexcept function of pointer to int returning int”
constexpr auto f2(int[] b) noexcept -> int;
 
struct X
{
    // the type of “f3” is
    // “function of no parameter const returning const int”
    const int f3() const;
};

[edit] Trailing qualifiers

A function type with cv or ref (since C++11) (including a type named by typedef name) can appear only as:

the function type for a non-static member function,
the function type to which a pointer to member refers,
the top-level function type of a function typedef declaration or alias declaration(since C++11),
the type-id in the default argument of a template type parameter, or
the type-id of a template argument for a template type parameter.

typedef int FIC(int) const;
FIC f;     // Error: does not declare a member function
 
struct S
{
    FIC f; // OK
};
 
FIC S::*pm = &S::f; // OK

[edit] Function signature

Every function has a signature.

The signature of a function consists of its name and parameter-type-list. Its signature also contains the enclosing namespace, with the following exceptions:

If the function is a member function, its signature contains the class of which the function is a member instead of the enclosing namespace. Its signature also contains the following components, if exists:

cv

ref

(since C++11)

trailing requires clause

If the function is a non-template friend function with a trailing requires clause, its signature contains the enclosing class instead of the enclosing namespace. The signature also contains the trailing requires clause.

(since C++20)

except and attr(since C++11) doesn't involve function signature, although noexcept specification affects the function type(since C++17).

[edit] Function definition

A non-member function definition may appear at namespace scope only (there are no nested functions). A member function definition may also appear in the body of a class definition. They have the following syntax:


attr (optional) decl-specifier-seq (optional) declarator virt-specifier-seq (optional) function-body	(1)

attr (optional) decl-specifier-seq (optional) declarator requires-clause function-body	(2)	(since C++20)

1) A function definition without constraints.

2) A function definition with constraints.

attr	-	(since C++11) a list of attributes. These attributes are combined with the attributes after the identifier in the declarator (see top of this page), if any.
decl-specifier-seq	-	the return type with specifiers, as in the declaration grammar
declarator	-	function declarator, same as in the function declaration grammar above (can be parenthesized)
virt-specifier-seq	-	(since C++11) `override`, `final`, or their combination in any order
requires-clause	-	a requires clause
function-body	-	the function body (see below)

function-body is one of the following:


ctor-initializer (optional) compound-statement	(1)

function-try-block	(2)

`=` `default` `;`	(3)	(since C++11)

`=` `delete` `;`	(4)	(since C++11)

`=` `delete` `(` string-literal `);`	(5)	(since C++26)

1) Regular function body.

2) Function try block.

3) Explicitly defaulted function definition.

4) Explicitly deleted function definition.

5) Explicitly deleted function definition with error message.

ctor-initializer	-	member initializer list, only allowed in constructors
compound-statement	-	the brace-enclosed sequence of statements that constitutes the body of a function
function-try-block	-	a function try block
string-literal	-	an unevaluated string literal that could be used to explain the rationale for why the function is deleted

int max(int a, int b, int c)
{
    int m = (a > b) ? a : b;
    return (m > c) ? m : c;
}
 
// decl-specifier-seq is “int”
// declarator is “max(int a, int b, int c)”
// body is { ... }

The function body is a compound statement (sequence of zero or more statements surrounded by a pair of curly braces), which is executed when the function call is made. Moreover, the function body of a constructor also includes the following:

For all non-static data members whose identifiers are absent in the constructor's member initializer list, the default member initializers or(since C++11) default-initializations used to initialize the corresponding member subobjects.
For all base classes whose type names are absent in the constructor's member initializer list, the default-initializations used to initialize the corresponding base class subobjects.

If a function definition contains a virt-specifier-seq, it must define a member function.	(since C++11)
If a function definition contains a requires-clause, it must define a templated function.	(since C++20)

void f() override {} // Error: not a member function
 
void g() requires (sizeof(int) == 4) {} // Error: not a templated function

The parameter types, as well as the return type of a function definition cannot be (possibly cv-qualified) incomplete class types unless the function is defined as deleted(since C++11). The completeness check is only made in the function body, which allows member functions to return the class in which they are defined (or its enclosing class), even if it is incomplete at the point of definition (it is complete in the function body).

The parameters declared in the declarator of a function definition are in scope within the body. If a parameter is not used in the function body, it does not need to be named (it's sufficient to use an abstract declarator):

void print(int a, int) // second parameter is not used
{
    std::printf("a = %d\n", a);
}

Even though top-level cv-qualifiers on the parameters are discarded in function declarations, they modify the type of the parameter as visible in the body of a function:

void f(const int n) // declares function of type void(int)
{
    // but in the body, the type of “n” is const int
}

Defaulted functions If the function definition is of syntax (3), the function is defined as explicitly defaulted. A function that is explicitly defaulted must be a special member function or comparison operator function(since C++20), and it must have no default argument. An explicitly defaulted special member function `F1` is allowed to differ from the corresponding special member function `F2` that would have been implicitly declared, as follows: `F1` and `F2` may have different ref and/or except. If `F2` has a non-object parameter of type const C&, the corresponding non-object parameter of `F1` maybe of type `C&`.	(since C++11)
If `F2` has an implicit object parameter of type “reference to `C`”, `F1` may be an explicit object member function whose explicit object parameter is of (possibly different) type “reference to `C`”, in which case the type of `F1` would differ from the type of `F2` in that the type of `F1` has an additional parameter.	(since C++23)
If the type of `F1` differs from the type of `F2` in a way other than as allowed by the preceding rules, then: If `F1` is an assignment operator, and the return type of `F1` differs from the return type of `F2` or `F1`’s non-object parameter type is not a reference, the program is ill-formed. Otherwise, if `F1` is explicitly defaulted on its first declaration, it is defined as deleted. Otherwise, the program is ill-formed. A function explicitly defaulted on its first declaration is implicitly inline, and is implicitly constexpr if it can be a constexpr function. struct S { S(int a = 0) = default; // error: default argument void operator=(const S&) = default; // error: non-matching return type ~S() noexcept(false) = default; // OK, different exception specification private: int i; S(S&); // OK, private copy constructor }; S::S(S&) = default; // OK, defines copy constructor Explicitly-defaulted functions and implicitly-declared functions are collectively called defaulted functions. Their actual definitions will be implicitly provided, see their corresponding pages for details. Deleted functions If the function definition is of syntax (4) or (5)(since C++26), the function is defined as explicitly deleted. Any use of a deleted function is ill-formed (the program will not compile). This includes calls, both explicit (with a function call operator) and implicit (a call to deleted overloaded operator, special member function, allocation function, etc), constructing a pointer or pointer-to-member to a deleted function, and even the use of a deleted function in an expression that is not potentially-evaluated. A non-pure virtual member function can be defined as deleted, even though it is implicitly odr-used. A deleted function can only be overridden by deleted functions, and a non-deleted function can only be overridden by non-deleted functions.	(since C++11)
If string-literal is present, the implementation is encouraged to include the text of it as part of the resulting diagnostic message which shows the rationale for deletion or to suggest an alternative.	(since C++26)
If the function is overloaded, overload resolution takes place first, and the program is only ill-formed if the deleted function was selected: struct T { void* operator new(std::size_t) = delete; void* operator new[](std::size_t) = delete("new[] is deleted"); // since C++26 }; T* p = new T; // Error: attempts to call deleted T::operator new T* p = new T[5]; // Error: attempts to call deleted T::operator new[], // emits a diagnostic message “new[] is deleted” The deleted definition of a function must be the first declaration in a translation unit: a previously-declared function cannot be redeclared as deleted: struct T { T(); }; T::T() = delete; // Error: must be deleted on the first declaration User-provided functions A function is user-provided if it is user-declared and not explicitly defaulted or deleted on its first declaration. A user-provided explicitly-defaulted function (i.e., explicitly defaulted after its first declaration) is defined at the point where it is explicitly defaulted; if such a function is implicitly defined as deleted, the program is ill-formed. Declaring a function as defaulted after its first declaration can provide efficient execution and concise definition while enabling a stable binary interface to an evolving code base. // All special member functions of “trivial” are // defaulted on their first declarations respectively, // they are not user-provided struct trivial { trivial() = default; trivial(const trivial&) = default; trivial(trivial&&) = default; trivial& operator=(const trivial&) = default; trivial& operator=(trivial&&) = default; ~trivial() = default; }; struct nontrivial { nontrivial(); // first declaration }; // not defaulted on the first declaration, // it is user-provided and is defined here nontrivial::nontrivial() = default; Ambiguity Resolution In the case of an ambiguity between a function body and an initializer beginning with `{` or `=`(since C++26), the ambiguity is resolved by checking the type of the declarator identifier of noptr-declarator : If the type is a function type, the ambiguous token sequence is treated as a function body. Otherwise, the ambiguous token sequence is treated as an initializer. using T = void(); // function type using U = int; // non-function type T a{}; // defines a function doing nothing U b{}; // value-initializes an int object T c = delete("hello"); // defines a function as deleted U d = delete("hello"); // copy-initializes an int object with // the result of a delete expression (ill-formed) __func__ Within the function body, the function-local predefined variable __func__ is defined as if by static const char __func__[] = "function-name"; This variable has block scope and static storage duration: struct S { S(): s(__func__) {} // OK: initializer-list is part of function body const char* s; }; void f(const char* s = __func__); // Error: parameter-list is part of declarator Run this code #include <iostream> void Foo() { std::cout << __func__ << ' '; } struct Bar { Bar() { std::cout << __func__ << ' '; } ~Bar() { std::cout << __func__ << ' '; } struct Pub { Pub() { std::cout << __func__ << ' '; } }; }; int main() { Foo(); Bar bar; Bar::Pub pub; } Possible output: Foo Bar Pub ~Bar	(since C++11)

[edit] Notes

In case of ambiguity between a variable declaration using the direct-initialization syntax and a function declaration, the compiler always chooses function declaration; see direct-initialization.

Feature-test macro	Value	Std	Feature
`__cpp_decltype_auto`	201304L	(C++14)	`decltype(auto)`
`__cpp_return_type_deduction`	201304L	(C++14)	return type deduction for normal functions
`__cpp_explicit_this_parameter`	202110L	(C++23)	explicit object parameters (deducing this)
`__cpp_deleted_function`	202403L	(C++26)	deleted function with a reason

[edit] Keywords

default, delete,

[edit] Example

Run this code

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
// simple function with a default argument, returning nothing
void f0(const std::string& arg = "world!")
{
    std::cout << "Hello, " << arg << '\n';
}
 
// the declaration is in namespace (file) scope
// (the definition is provided later)
int f1();
 
// function returning a pointer to f0, pre-C++11 style
void (*fp03())(const std::string&)
{
    return f0;
}
 
// function returning a pointer to f0, with C++11 trailing return type
auto fp11() -> void(*)(const std::string&)
{
    return f0;
}
 
int main()
{
    f0();
    fp03()("test!");
    fp11()("again!");
    int f2(std::string) noexcept; // declaration in function scope
    std::cout << "f2(\"bad\"): " << f2("bad") << '\n';
    std::cout << "f2(\"42\"): " << f2("42") << '\n';
}
 
// simple non-member function returning int
int f1()
{
    return 007;
}
 
// function with an exception specification and a function try block
int f2(std::string str) noexcept
try
{
    return std::stoi(str);
}
catch (const std::exception& e)
{
    std::cerr << "stoi() failed!\n";
    return 0;
}
 
// deleted function, an attempt to call it results in a compilation error
void bar() = delete
#   if __cpp_deleted_function
    ("reason")
#   endif
;

Possible output:

stoi() failed!
Hello, world!
Hello, test!
Hello, again!
f2("bad"): 0
f2("42"): 42

[edit] Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR	Applied to	Behavior as published	Correct behavior
CWG 135	C++98	member functions defined in class could not have a parameter of or return its own class because it is incomplete	allowed
CWG 332	C++98	a parameter could have cv-qualified void type	prohibited
CWG 393	C++98	types that include pointers/references to array of unknown bound could not be parameters	such types are allowed
CWG 452	C++98	member initializer list was not a part of function body	it is
CWG 577	C++98	dependent type void could be used to declare a function taking no parameters	only non-dependent void is allowed
CWG 1327	C++11	defaulted or deleted functions could not be specified with override or final	allowed
CWG 1355	C++11	only special member functions could be user-provided	extended to all functions
CWG 1394	C++11	deleted functions could not have any parameter of an incomplete type or return an incomplete type	incomplete type allowed
CWG 1824	C++98	the completeness check on parameter type and return type of a function definition could be made outside the context of the function definition	only check in the context of the function definition
CWG 1877	C++14	return type deduction treated return; as return void();	simply deduce the return type as void in this case
CWG 2015	C++11	the implicit odr-use of a deleted virtual function was ill-formed	such odr-uses are exempt from the use prohibition
CWG 2044	C++14	return type deduction on functions returning void would fail if the declared return type is decltype(auto)	updated the deduction rule to handle this case
CWG 2081	C++14	function redeclarations could use return type deduction even if the initial declaration does not	not allowed
CWG 2144	C++11	{} could be a function body or an initializer at the same place	differentiated by the type of the declarator identifier
CWG 2145	C++98	the declarator in function definition could not be parenthesized	allowed
CWG 2259	C++11	the ambiguity resolution rule regarding parenthesized type names did not cover lambda expressions	covered
CWG 2430	C++98	in the definition of a member function in a class definition, the type of that class could not be the return type or parameter type due to the resolution of CWG issue 1824	only check in the function body
CWG 2760	C++98	the function body of a constructor did not include the initializations not specified in the constructor's regular function body	also includes these initializations
CWG 2831	C++20	a function definition with a requires-clause could define a non-templated function	prohibited
CWG 2846	C++23	explicit object member functions could not have out-of-class definitions	allowed

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C documentation for Declaring functions

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Function declaration
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noptr-declarator `(` parameter-list `)` cv (optional) ref (optional) except (optional) attr (optional)	(1)

noptr-declarator `(` parameter-list `)` cv (optional) ref (optional) except (optional) attr (optional) `->` trailing	(2)	(since C++11)

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