On the ranks of bent functions

The rank of a bent function is the 2-rank of the associated symmetric 2-design. In this paper, it is shown that it is an invariant under the equivalence relation among bent functions. Some upper and lower bounds of ranks of general bent functions, Maiorana–McFarland bent functions and Desarguesian partial spread bent functions are given. As a consequence, it is proved that almost every Desarguesian partial spread bent function is not equivalent to any Maiorana–McFarland bent function.