Differences Between volatile, mutable, and const Keywords in C++
The keywords volatile, mutable, and const play important roles in C++ programming.
volatile tells the compiler not to optimize the variable because its value can change at any time. This is usually used in multithreaded programs. For example:
volatile int flag = 1;
mutable allows a member of a class to be modified, even if the object is declared as const. This is useful when a member variable does not logically affect the constness of the object. Example:
mutable int counter = 0;
const indicates that a variable’s value cannot be changed once assigned. It is used for defining constant values and read-only data. For example:
const int max_value = 100;
Understanding these keywords can improve code performance, readability, and safety.