The keyword tt(const) is often used behind the parameter list of member
functions. This keyword indicates that a member function does not alter the
data members of its object. Such member functions are called
    emi(const member functions). In the class tt(Person), we see that the
accessor functions were declared tt(const):
        verb(    class Person
    {
        public:
            std::string const &name()    const;
            std::string const &address() const;
            std::string const &phone()   const;
            size_t mass()              const;
    };)

The rule of thumb given in section ref(ConstRule) applies here too:
whichever appears to the em(left) of the keyword tt(const), is not
altered. With member functions this should be interpreted as `doesn't alter
its own data'.

When implementing a const member function the tt(const) attribute must be
repeated:
        verb(    string const &Person::name() const
    {
        return d_name;
    })

The compiler prevents the data members of a class from being modified
by one of its const member functions. Therefore a statement like
        verb(    d_name[0] = toupper(static_cast<unsigned char>(d_name[0]));)

results in a compiler error when added to the above function's definition.

tt(Const) member functions are used to prevent inadvertent data
modification. Except for constructors and the destructor (cf. chapter
ref(MEMORY)) only const member functions can be used with (plain, references
or pointers to) tt(const) objects.

Const objects are frequently encountered as tt(const &) parameters of
functions. Inside such functions only the object's const members may be
used. Here is an example:
        verb(    void displayMass(ostream &out, Person const &person)
    {
        out << person.name() << " weighs " << person.mass() << " kg.\n";
    })

Since tt(person) is defined as a tt(Person const &) the function
tt(displayMass) cannot call, e.g.,nl()
    tt(person.setMass(75)).

    The tt(const) member function attribute can be used to
 hi(function overloading) overload member functions. When functions are
overloaded by their tt(const) attribute the compiler uses the member
function matching most closely the i(const-qualification) of the object:
    itemization(
    it() When the object is a tt(const) object, only tt(const) member
functions can be used.
    it() When the object is not a tt(const) object, non-tt(const) member
functions are used, em(unless) only a tt(const) member function is
available. In that case, the tt(const) member function is used.
    )
    The next example illustrates how (non) tt(const) member functions are
selected:
        verbinclude(-a examples/constmembers.cc)
    As a general principle of design: member functions should always be given
the tt(const) attribute, unless they actually modify the object's data.
