static vs inline for functions implemented in header files

Question

The way I think of inline in C++ is for linkage/scoping. I put it in the same basket with extern and static for global objects.

Ty

Answer 1

The main difference is what happens with any static locals in the function -- if the function is static then each compilation unit will have its own copy of the static locals distinct from any other compilation unit. If the function is inline, there will only be one (set of) static local(s) shared by all compilation units.