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Groups > comp.lang.c++ > #71291

Re: Union type punning in C++

From Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c++
Subject Re: Union type punning in C++
Date 2020-01-11 07:28 -0800
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <868sme2err.fsf@linuxsc.com> (permalink)
References <kl6PF.88068$CSS.31003@fx01.dcg> <quluvv$10pp$1@gioia.aioe.org>

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"Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> writes:

> On 1/1/2020 11:24 AM, Mr Flibble wrote:
>
>> Undefined behaviour aside is C++ union type punning an acceptable
>> hack or not, given that it is legal in C?
>> If it works on all the compilers I care about does it really matter
>> that it is *currently* classed as undefined behaviour?
>> I would say that everyone has "secretly" fucking done it some time
>> or other so the C++ Standards Committee should get there act
>> together and legalize it like it has been in C.
>> Can anyone provide a straight answer to this?
>
> Is there some cryptic hidden thing in the standard that just might
> "allow" for the following code to run without ub?
> ___________________________
> #include <iostream>
>
> struct base
> {
>     int p0;
> };
>
> struct object_0
> {
>     base b;
>     int p0;
> };
>
> struct object_1
> {
>     base b;
>     int p0;
>     int p1;
> };
>
> union object
> {
>     base b;
>     object_0 o0;
>     object_1 o1;
> };
>
>
> int main() {
>     object o;
>
>     o.b.p0 = 41;
>     o.o0.b.p0 += 1;
>     o.o1.b.p0 += 1;
>
>     // humm
>     int r = o.b.p0; // ub...
>
>     std::cout << "r = " << r << "\n";
>
>     return 0;
> }
> ___________________________
>
>
> Wrt POD and a common base object on each sub-object in a union, well
> does it bite the dust with UB?

I believe this runs afoul of the rules for common initial
sequences, because type 'base' has as its first member a type
that is not layout compatible with the type of the first members
of object_0 and object_1.  Either just use an unadorned int for
the first members of object_0 and object_1:

    struct object_0 {
        int p0;
        ...
    };

    struct object_1 {
        int p0;
        ...
    };

or wrap the 'base' member of the union in a struct

    union object {
        struct { base b; } tag;
        object_0 o0;
        object_1 o1;
    };

with corresponding changes to the accessing code.

I haven't looked carefully at the updating part of the question.
My guess is if you want to be really sure the code isn't doing
anything "bad" it should be coded more carefully.  But that is
just a guess, so take it for what it's worth.

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Thread

Union type punning in C++ Mr Flibble <flibbleREMOVETHISBIT@i42.co.uk> - 2020-01-01 19:24 +0000
  Re: Union type punning in C++ boltar@nowhere.org - 2020-01-02 09:36 +0000
  Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-02 03:34 -0800
    Re: Union type punning in C++ Bo Persson <bo@bo-persson.se> - 2020-01-02 12:49 +0100
      Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-02 04:52 -0800
        Re: Union type punning in C++ boltar@nowhere.org - 2020-01-02 17:22 +0000
          Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-02 10:26 -0800
            Re: Union type punning in C++ Chris Vine <chris@cvine--nospam--.freeserve.co.uk> - 2020-01-02 21:54 +0000
              Re: Union type punning in C++ boltar@nowhere.org - 2020-01-03 14:49 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-03 17:11 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Chris Vine <chris@cvine--nospam--.freeserve.co.uk> - 2020-01-03 17:55 +0000
            Re: Union type punning in C++ boltar@nowhere.org - 2020-01-03 09:55 +0000
              Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-03 11:20 +0100
              Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 02:21 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ boltar@nowhere.org - 2020-01-03 14:55 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 16:04 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 14:45 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 01:26 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 16:55 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 01:02 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 17:06 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 07:34 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ boltar@nowhere.org - 2020-01-03 16:12 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 08:49 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 19:28 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-03 18:54 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 01:25 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 00:28 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 01:41 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 00:52 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 08:08 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 08:34 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 08:43 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 08:20 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 09:25 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 08:25 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 09:25 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 08:27 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 09:36 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 08:41 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 09:49 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 09:01 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 10:02 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 09:19 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 10:38 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-04 12:45 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 12:00 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 13:03 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 14:22 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 14:46 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 10:32 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 10:43 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-03 18:55 +0000
            Re: Union type punning in C++ Daniel <danielaparker@gmail.com> - 2020-01-08 09:40 -0800
              Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-08 13:23 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Daniel <danielaparker@gmail.com> - 2020-01-08 22:41 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Daniel <danielaparker@gmail.com> - 2020-01-08 22:52 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-09 12:59 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Daniel <danielaparker@gmail.com> - 2020-01-09 13:32 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mister2U@honorific.org - 2020-01-10 12:28 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-10 14:02 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mister2U@honorific.org - 2020-01-10 16:21 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-10 19:18 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Daniel <danielaparker@gmail.com> - 2020-01-10 15:41 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-11 12:01 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Daniel <danielaparker@gmail.com> - 2020-01-11 07:05 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-11 23:53 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mr Flibble <flibble@i42.removethisbit.co.uk> - 2020-01-12 01:41 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Daniel <danielaparker@gmail.com> - 2020-01-11 19:00 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mr Flibble <flibble@i42.removethisbit.co.uk> - 2020-01-13 17:32 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mister2U@honorific.org - 2020-01-11 11:53 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-11 13:20 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mister2U@honorific.org - 2020-01-11 12:33 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-11 14:28 +0100
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2020-01-11 10:48 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2020-01-11 11:05 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mister2U@honorific.org - 2020-01-11 11:55 +0000
          Re: Union type punning in C++ Bo Persson <bo@bo-persson.se> - 2020-01-02 21:12 +0100
            Re: Union type punning in C++ boltar@nowhere.org - 2020-01-03 14:46 +0000
              Re: Union type punning in C++ Bo Persson <bo@bo-persson.se> - 2020-01-03 20:01 +0100
          Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-02 23:23 +0100
  Re: Union type punning in C++ peter koch <peter.koch.larsen@gmail.com> - 2020-01-02 12:39 -0800
  Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-02 15:39 -0800
    Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-02 16:58 -0800
      Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-02 17:55 -0800
        Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 00:40 -0800
          Re: Union type punning in C++ Mr Flibble <flibbleREMOVETHISBIT@i42.co.uk> - 2020-01-03 14:04 +0000
            Re: Union type punning in C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-01-03 15:24 +0100
              Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 14:34 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-03 22:59 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mr Flibble <flibbleREMOVETHISBIT@i42.co.uk> - 2020-01-04 00:11 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2020-01-04 00:21 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mr Flibble <flibbleREMOVETHISBIT@i42.co.uk> - 2020-01-04 00:26 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-04 16:51 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 18:47 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 19:07 -0800
            Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 06:47 -0800
              Re: Union type punning in C++ Mr Flibble <flibbleREMOVETHISBIT@i42.co.uk> - 2020-01-03 14:57 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 07:38 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Mr Flibble <flibbleREMOVETHISBIT@i42.co.uk> - 2020-01-03 17:06 +0000
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 11:05 -0800
          Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-03 14:38 -0800
            Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-03 22:37 -0800
      Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-11 07:10 -0800
        Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-11 10:23 -0800
          Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-13 09:01 -0800
            Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-13 11:03 -0800
              Re: Union type punning in C++ James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-13 12:48 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-13 14:15 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-13 21:47 -0500
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-13 23:44 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-14 08:26 -0500
              Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-14 07:30 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-14 09:11 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-14 21:52 -0500
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-14 23:15 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-21 02:03 -0800
    Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-11 07:28 -0800
      Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-11 20:40 -0800
        Re: Union type punning in C++ James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-12 20:16 -0500
          Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-12 17:28 -0800
            Re: Union type punning in C++ James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-12 21:53 -0500
              Re: Union type punning in C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2020-01-13 18:50 +0100
              Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-13 16:21 -0800
            Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-13 08:57 -0800
              Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-13 16:27 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-14 07:05 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-14 20:58 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-21 03:47 -0800
            Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-15 01:22 -0800
              Re: Union type punning in C++ James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-15 08:04 -0500
                Re: Union type punning in C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2020-01-15 09:38 -0800
                Re: Union type punning in C++ James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-01-15 11:01 -0800
        Re: Union type punning in C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-01-13 08:37 -0800
          Re: Union type punning in C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2020-01-13 16:29 -0800

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