Submitter: UK C Panel
Submission Date: 2005-03-04
Source: Joseph Myers <joseph@codesourcery.com>
Reference Document: ISO/IEC WG14
N1105
Version: 1.0
Date: 2005-03-04
Subject: Function definitions with empty parentheses
Summary
I believe the intent of C is that old-style function definitions with empty parentheses do not give the function a type including a prototype for the rest of the translation unit. For example,
void f(){}
void g(){if(0)f(1);}
is valid.
6.9.1#7 specifies that if the declarator in the function definition includes a parameter type list, it also serves as a prototype for the rest of the translation unit. It does not specify that nothing else serves as a prototype. Some readers of the standard interpret 6.7.5.3#14, "An empty list in a function declarator that is part of a definition of that function specifies that the function has no parameters.", as specifying that it provides a prototype.
Question 1: Does such a function definition give the function a type including a prototype for the rest of the translation unit?
Question 2: Is the above translation unit valid?
Suggested Technical Corrigendum