Defining standalone functions inside a header file - C++

Question

When implementing a standalone function inside a header file, it gives an error "Error 4 fatal error LNK1169: one or more multiply defined symbols found" whereas standalone template functions and member functions of a class work fine when implemented inside a header file.

Is the normal standalone function needed to be defined as an inline function? can anybody give me a clear explanation why?

Answer 1

Every time you include it - it gets redefined into that object file

an inline function allows this because it isn't a linker object