Why Cast Unused Return Values to `void` in C/C ?

The Rationale Behind Casting Unused Return Values to void

In C/C , it's common practice to cast unused return values to void to explicitly indicate that the return value is being intentionally ignored. This practice serves several purposes:

1. Explicit Intention: The cast to void sends a clear message to other developers that you're aware of the return value and are choosing to ignore it. This helps prevent confusion and potential errors.

2. Error Handling: In some cases, functions may return error codes that must be handled. Casting the return value to void ensures that these errors are always addressed, prohibiting the compiler from silently suppressing them.

3. Preference for C-style Casts (C ): In C , casting to void is an exception where the use of C-style casts is preferred over the verbose static_cast notation.

4. Exemption for Overloaded Operators: Casting to void is generally discouraged for overloaded operators that don't use function call notation. This ensures that the usual operator behavior remains uninterrupted.

Example:

Consider the following code:

int fn();

void whatever()
{
    (void) fn();
}

In this example, casting the return value of fn() to void explicitly communicates that whatever() is not interested in the result. This approach ensures that any potential errors or warnings associated with the return value will be properly handled.

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