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What is the difference between function signature and function prototype?

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What is the difference between function signature and function prototype?
posted Jun 22, 2014 by Neelam

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2 Answers

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A function prototype is a definition the which is structured in the same way as a normal function is structured, but in instead of containing code, prototype ends in a semicolon. Function prototypes is a C or C++ concept and not relevant to Java.

In c++ we have a concept of function signature which consists of the function prototype. It tells you is the general information about a function, its name, parameters, what scope it is in, and other miscellaneous information.
Example :
static const int & MyClass::MyFunc(int a, int b);

In Java we have a concept of method signature which consists only of the name of the method and the parameter types and their order.

answer Jun 22, 2014 by Tapesh Kulkarni
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A method signature consists only of the name of the method and the parameter types and their order. The modifiers, return type and throws clause are not part of the signature .

Function prototypes are a C concept that is not relevant to Java.

A function prototype is basically a definition for a function. It is structured in the same way that a normal function is structured, except instead of containing code, the prototype ends in a semicolon.

answer Jun 27, 2014 by Pradeep Kumar Gautam
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