Proposed resolution (March, 2008):

Change 6.7 [basic.link] paragraph 3 as indicated (note addition of punctuation in the first bullet):

A name having namespace scope (6.4.6 [basic.scope.namespace]) has internal linkage if it is the name of

• an object, reference, function, or function template that is explicitly declared static ; or,

• an object or reference that is explicitly declared const and neither explicitly declared extern nor previously declared to have external linkage; or

• a data member of an anonymous union.

According to 6.7 [basic.link] paragraph 3,

A name having namespace scope (6.4.6 [basic.scope.namespace]) has internal linkage if it is the name of

• an object, reference, function or function template that is explicitly declared static or,

• an object or reference that is explicitly declared const and neither explicitly declared extern nor previously declared to have external linkage;

It is not possible to declare a reference to be const .

History Date User Action Args 2010-03-29 00:00:00adminsetstatus: wp -> cd2 2009-08-03 00:00:00adminsetstatus: dr -> wp 2009-03-23 00:00:00adminsetmessages: + msg2016 2009-03-23 00:00:00adminsetstatus: ready -> dr 2008-10-05 00:00:00adminsetstatus: review -> ready 2008-05-18 00:00:00adminsetmessages: + msg1646 2008-05-18 00:00:00adminsetstatus: drafting -> review 2006-11-05 00:00:00adminsetstatus: open -> drafting 2006-03-31 00:00:00admincreate