Type qualification mismatch: binding a pointer to non-const int to the address of a const int #include<stdio.h> int main() { const int k = 7; int const q = &k; / constant pointer to non-const int */ printf("%d", *q); return 0; }

Introduction / Context:This tests qualifier compatibility. The expression &k has type const int, but the code tries to initialize q as an int *const, i.e., a constant pointer to non-const int. That discards const on the pointed-to type.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• k is const int.
• &k is of type const int *.
• q is declared as int *const (pointer itself const, target non-const).

Concept / Approach:Type int *const means “a const pointer to int.” The target type is int (modifiable). Assigning the address of a const int to a pointer to non-const int would allow writes to a const object through q, which is forbidden. The correct type would be const int *const q = &k;.

Step-by-Step Solution:Compute &k → const int *.Attempt to bind to int *const → discarding const on pointee.Compilation error: cannot convert from const int * to int *const.Fix: make q a pointer to const: const int *const q = &k;

Verification / Alternative check:With the corrected declaration, dereferencing *q yields 7, but q cannot be used to modify k.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:Rvalue/Lvalue diagnostics are not the issue. “No error” is incorrect because qualifiers are mismatched.

Common Pitfalls:Confusing "const pointer" with "pointer to const"; overlooking that const applies to the pointee type here.

Final Answer:Error: cannot convert from 'const int *' to 'int *const'