Constref

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Version 2.6 of Free Pascal added the constref parameter qualifier.

program call_method;

var x : longint ;

procedure test_cr(constref cr: longint);
begin
  writeln('This parameter 5 has been passed by reference - rather than by value - although the Pascal code does not really care about that: ', cr );
end;



begin
  test_cr(5);
  x:=6;
  test_cr(x);
end.

It is like the const parameter qualifier. This qualifier informs the compiler that within the entire program there is no code that will change the value of the parameter.

This means that not only the parameter, but also the variable passed by the caller (e.g. a global var) is not changed until the call with the constref parameter has returned.

In addition to being like const parameter qualifier, the constref qualifier enforces that the parameter is passed by reference.

This differs from the const parameters, which may be passed as reference or value depending on what the compiler thinks is best.

The new feature notes for version 2.6 suggest that this can be used for interfacing with external routines in other languages, where this type of parameter passing is required. Other uses of constref may hinder the compiler from optimizing code.

See also

• const
• var