'warn_unused_result' attribute in gcc

If you want to enforce checking return value of your function you can specify warn_unused_result attribute in your function declaration (ofcourse attributes can be placed only in declarations not definitions). If this attibute is specified and caller does not check the return value, the compiler outputs warning message for not checking return value. This does not mean you need to check the return value but bare assignment also removes this warning. Ofcourse it is difficult as well as ugly to check against condition. Warning is well sufficient. Here is an example. Using this attribute in void function has no effect. gcc simply ignores the attribute and same is displayed in compilation output.

int check() __attribute__((warn_unused_result));
int check()
{
  return 0;
}

int main()
{
  check();
  /*
    compiler warns of not checking return value --
    warning: ignoring return value of check,
    declared with attribute warn_unused_result
  */

  int k = check();//no warning
}