TITLE: Terminology - function prototype, type, and signature PROBLEM: dmcreyno@firewalker.delta-air.com (David McReynolds) I recently completed a company training course that covered an intro to OOA/OOD/OOP. The documentation for the course says that a signature includes three things: 1. Return type 2. Function name 3. Parameter type list RESPONSE: clamage@Eng.Sun.COM (Steve Clamage), 17 Aug 95 A function PROTOTYPE (or header) has those three components. Example: int foo(double, char*) The function TYPE includes the return type and the parameter type list but not the name. The type of function foo is int (*)(double, char*) The function SIGNATURE includes the function name and parameter type list, but does not include the return type. The signature of function foo is foo(double, char*) These definitions are for non-member, non-template functions. The signature of a member or template function includes additional information, but never the return type. Reference: C++ draft standard, section 1.3.