Chapter 39: Inline functions

A function defined with the inline specifier is an inline function. An inline function can be multiply defined without violating the One Definition Rule, and can therefore be defined in a header with external linkage. Declaring a function inline hints to the compiler that the function should be inlined during code generation, but does not provide a guarantee.

Section 39.1: Non-member inline function definition

inline int add(int x, int y)

{

return x + y;

}

Section 39.2: Member inline functions

// header (.hpp) struct A

{

void i_am_inlined()

{

}

};

struct B

{

void i_am_NOT_inlined();

};

// source (.cpp)

void B::i_am_NOT_inlined()

{

}

Section 39.3: What is function inlining?

inline int add(int x, int y)

{

return x + y;

}

int main()

{

int a = 1, b = 2; int c = add(a, b);

}

In the above code, when add is inlined, the resulting code would become something like this

int main()

{

int a = 1, b = 2; int c = a + b;

}

The inline function is nowhere to be seen, its body gets inlined into the caller's body. Had add not been inlined, a