3. nitpick to the nitpick: your example is a bad way to prove that arrays and pointers are distinct: a = a; // also doesn't compile const int x, y;

3. nitpick to the nitpick: your example is a bad way to prove that arrays and pointers are distinct: a = a; // also doesn't compile const int x, y; x=y; // also doesn't compile :) The following is more helpful I think: a=b; //error b=a; //fine! sizeof a != sizeof b; // true