--- title: "main Function Restrictions | Microsoft Docs" ms.custom: "" ms.date: "11/04/2016" ms.reviewer: "" ms.suite: "" ms.technology: ["cpp-language"] ms.tgt_pltfrm: "" ms.topic: "language-reference" f1_keywords: ["Main"] dev_langs: ["C++"] helpviewer_keywords: ["main function, restrictions on using"] ms.assetid: 7b3df731-344b-44a8-850c-11cbcbfbfa83 caps.latest.revision: 8 author: "mikeblome" ms.author: "mblome" manager: "ghogen" --- # main Function Restrictions Several restrictions apply to the **main** function that do not apply to any other C++ functions. The **main** function: - Cannot be overloaded (see [Function Overloading](function-overloading.md)). - Cannot be declared as **inline**. - Cannot be declared as **static**. - Cannot have its address taken. - Cannot be called. ## See Also [main: Program Startup](../cpp/main-program-startup.md)