CWARN.OVERRIDE.CONST

Function override fails due to mismatch of const qualifiers

The CWARN.OVERRIDE.CONST checker finds instances in which there is a mismatch in const qualifiers between a virtual function in a child class and its corresponding function in the base class.

Vulnerability and risk

If a virtual function in the child class differs from the corresponding function in the base class, no overriding takes place. Typically, the child function was meant to override the base function, so design intent isn't accomplished.

Vulnerable code example

Copy

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
  class Base {
    virtual void foo() const { }
    virtual void bar() = 0;
  };
  
  class Child : public Base {
    void foo() {}       
    void bar() const {} 
  };

In this example, Klocwork flags lines 7 and 8, since the virtual functions in the child class don't match those in the base class.