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Groups > comp.lang.c > #393175

Re: Regarding assignment to struct

From Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Regarding assignment to struct
Date 2025-05-05 07:03 -0700
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <864ixz5f43.fsf@linuxsc.com> (permalink)
References <vv338b$16oam$1@dont-email.me> <vv4j9p$33vhj$1@dont-email.me> <86plgo7ahu.fsf@linuxsc.com> <vv9hu7$3nomg$1@dont-email.me> <20250505111213.00004b55@yahoo.com>

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Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> writes:

> On Sun, 4 May 2025 22:22:12 -0700
> Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> wrote:
>
>> On Sun 5/4/2025 6:48 AM, Tim Rentsch wrote:
>>
>>>> One dark corner this feature has, is that in C (as opposed to C++)
>>>> the result of an assignment operator is an rvalue, which can
>>>> easily lead to some interesting consequences related to structs
>>>> with arrays inside.
>>>
>>> I'm curious to know what interesting consequences you mean here.  Do
>>> you mean something other than cases that have undefined behavior?
>>
>> I'm referring to the matter of the address identity of the resultant
>> rvalue object.  At first, "address identity of rvalue" might sound
>> strange, but the standard says that there's indeed an object tied to
>> such rvalue, and once we start applying array-to-pointer conversion
>> (and use `[]` operator), lvalues and addresses quickly come into the
>> picture.
>>
>> The standard says in 6.2.4/8:
>>
>> "A non-lvalue expression with structure or union type, where the
>> structure or union contains a member with array type [...]
>> refers to an object with automatic storage duration and temporary
>> lifetime.  Its lifetime begins when the expression is evaluated and
>> its initial value is the value of the expression.  Its lifetime ends
>> when the evaluation of the containing full expression ends.  [...]
>> Such an object need not have a unique address."
>> https://port70.net/~nsz/c/c11/n1570.html#6.2.4p8
>>
>> I wondering what the last sentence is intended to mean ("... need not
>> have a unique address").  At the first sight, the intent seems to be
>> obvious:  it simply says that such temporary objects might repeatedly
>> appear (and disappear) at the same location in storage, which is a
>> natural thing to expect.
>>
>> But is it, perhaps, intended to also allow such temporaries to have
>> addresses identical to regular named objects?  It is not immediately
>> clear to me.
>>
>> And when I make the following experiment with GCC and Clang
>>
>>    #include <stdio.h>
>>
>>    struct S { int a[10]; };
>>
>>    int main()
>>    {
>>      struct S a, b = { 0 };
>>      int *pa, *pb, *pc;
>>
>>      pa = &a.a[5];
>>      pb = &b.a[5];
>>      pc = &(a = b).a[5];
>>
>>      printf("%p %p %p\n", pa, pb, pc);
>>    }
>>
>> I consistently get the following output from GCC
>>
>>    0x7fff73eb5544 0x7fff73eb5574 0x7fff73eb5544
>>
>> And this is what I get from Clang
>>
>>    0x7ffd2b8dbf44 0x7ffd2b8dbf14 0x7ffd2b8dbee4
>>
>> As you can see, GCC apparently took C++-like approach to this
>> situation.  The returned "temporary" is not really a separate
>> temporary at all, but actually `a` itself.
>>
>> Meanwhile, in Clang all three pointers are different, i.e. Clang
>> decided to actually create a separate temporary object for the result
>> of the assignment.
>>
>> I have a strong feeling that GCC's behavior is non-conforming.  The
>> last sentence of 6.2.4/8 is not supposed to permit "projecting" the
>> resultant temporaries onto existing named objects.  I could be wrong...
>
> According to my understanding, you are wrong.
> Taking pointer of non-lvalue is UB, so anything compiler does is
> conforming.

Maybe you are thinking of C90.

In both C99 and C11, the expression

   (a = b).a[5]

is an lvalue, so taking its address with & is allowed.

It's easy to verify this assertion using gcc -std=c99 -pedantic.  If
the given expression were not an lvalue then taking its address with
& would be a constraint violation, requiring a diagnostic.  But no
diagnostic is produced.  (Using clang in place of gcc also produces
no diagnostic.)

The behavior under C99 semantics is arguably murky.  But under C11
semantics the behavior is well-defined.

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Thread

Regarding assignment to struct Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-05-02 18:34 +0000
  Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-02 13:17 -0700
  Re: Regarding assignment to struct Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@delq.com> - 2025-05-02 13:35 -0700
    That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2025-05-02 20:44 +0000
      Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-05-03 01:13 +0000
        Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-05-03 02:28 +0000
        Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2025-05-03 06:17 +0200
        Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2025-05-03 04:31 +0000
          Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2025-05-03 05:11 +0000
            Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2025-05-05 12:30 +0200
              Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2025-05-05 18:47 +0000
          Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-04 11:05 -0700
        Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-05-03 00:47 -0400
        Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-04 10:59 -0700
          Re: That depends... (Was: Regarding assignment to struct) Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-05-04 18:16 +0000
  Re: Regarding assignment to struct antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2025-05-02 21:35 +0000
    Re: Regarding assignment to struct Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2025-05-03 01:43 +0000
  Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-03 01:14 -0700
    Re: Regarding assignment to struct Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-05-03 22:46 +0000
      Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-03 17:37 -0700
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-05-03 23:38 -0400
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2025-05-04 09:25 +0000
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-05-04 14:27 +0000
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-04 18:45 +0200
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-04 13:20 -0700
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-05-05 00:41 +0000
              Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-04 18:42 -0700
              Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 21:57 -0700
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-05-04 21:08 -0400
    Re: Regarding assignment to struct Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-05-03 22:47 +0000
    Re: Regarding assignment to struct Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-05-03 22:46 +0000
    Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-04 06:48 -0700
      Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-04 22:22 -0700
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-05-05 11:12 +0300
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-05 01:29 -0700
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-05-05 12:01 +0300
              Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 07:14 -0700
              Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-05 08:45 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-05-05 20:20 +0300
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 22:26 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-29 05:11 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2025-05-29 12:57 -0400
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-05 13:27 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 17:04 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-05 17:53 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-03-01 18:54 -0800
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-03-01 19:36 -0800
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-06 11:35 +0200
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-29 05:19 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-29 21:05 +0200
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2025-05-06 17:36 +0000
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-06 20:46 +0200
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-05-06 19:22 +0000
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-07 09:37 +0200
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-29 05:49 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2025-05-29 16:33 +0200
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-29 21:20 +0200
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-05-29 21:15 +0000
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-29 14:54 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-05-30 14:29 +0000
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-30 10:50 +0200
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-12-22 04:40 -0800
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-06 13:06 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-29 05:21 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2025-05-29 16:43 +0200
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-06-06 17:44 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-29 05:14 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-29 13:56 -0700
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 07:03 -0700
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-05 01:26 -0700
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-05 10:14 -0700
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-08 12:45 -0700
              Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-08 22:20 +0200
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-05 01:34 -0700
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-05-05 12:03 +0300
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2025-05-05 11:30 +0000
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-05 13:32 -0700
              Re: Regarding assignment to struct Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2025-05-05 21:10 +0000
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 22:57 -0700
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 22:40 -0700
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 06:34 -0700
            Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-05 13:43 -0700
              Re: Regarding assignment to struct Nick Bowler <nbowler@draconx.ca> - 2025-05-06 19:06 +0000
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-06 13:21 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Nick Bowler <nbowler@draconx.ca> - 2025-05-07 19:09 +0000
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-07 14:23 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Nick Bowler <nbowler@draconx.ca> - 2025-05-08 12:58 +0000
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-07 21:17 -0700
              Re: Regarding assignment to struct Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2025-05-29 05:36 -0700
                Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-29 14:36 -0700
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 07:56 -0700
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-05 20:00 +0200
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct NotAorB <atod101101@gmail.com> - 2025-05-12 16:38 -0400
  Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-03 11:46 +0200
    Re: Regarding assignment to struct Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2025-05-05 08:50 +0000
      Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-05 13:34 +0200
      Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-05 13:53 -0700
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct Muttley@DastardlyHQ.org - 2025-05-06 07:16 +0000
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-06 11:46 +0200
          Re: Regarding assignment to struct Muttley@DastardlyHQ.org - 2025-05-06 10:18 +0000
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-05-06 16:34 +0300
  Re: Regarding assignment to struct Richard Damon <richard@damon-family.org> - 2025-05-03 21:42 -0400
    Re: Regarding assignment to struct Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2025-05-04 11:01 +0300
      Re: Regarding assignment to struct Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-05-04 08:34 +0000
        Re: Regarding assignment to struct David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2025-05-04 14:06 +0200
      Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-05 21:25 -0700
      Re: Regarding assignment to struct Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2025-05-12 11:23 +0200
  Re: Regarding assignment to struct Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2025-05-04 07:49 -0700
  Re: Regarding assignment to struct Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2025-05-04 14:09 -0700

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