Consider the following declarations:

int * const bla;int const * bla; const int * const bla;

As you can see, it can sometimes be hard to remember whether it’s the pointer that is declared constant or whether the pointer points to a constant variable or both.

The trick to deciphering these is to read the declaration backwards from right to left. For instance:

• int * const bla; reads as: bla is constant and points to an int.

Specifically, bla is a constant pointer that can’t be changed and always points to the same int.

• int const * bla; reads as: bla points to a const int. Specifically, bla can be changed but only points to integers that are const.
• int const * const bla; reads as: bla is constant and points to a constant int. Specifically, bla is a constant pointer that can only point to a const int and neither can be changed.

Just remember: read backwards from right to left.