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Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc

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Myth__Buster <raghavanil4m@gmail.com> writes:
[...]
> Yeah, I know, that's the usual pattern - when we allocate a certain
> chunk of memory for an object of type T, we would be storing the
> respective malloc's return value in an object of type T*. No questions
> on that beginner's aspect.
>
> In my question being discussed, we are allocating space for a function
> pointer which might *not* be of same size as that of a data pointer on
> some machines. No questions on the allocation. It's fine and clear to
> me. But, the data pointer(void*) being returned by malloc will be
> improper to access the allocated space for the function pointer. And
> hence, I would like to see a relevant note under malloc's
> documentation.
>
> Of course, I would like to allocate space for a function pointer using
> malloc without any dependency on any third-variable such as struct
> variable, etc, and use it thereafter(regarding the usage, that will be
> another story. I am interested in getting a proper pointer in the
> first place from malloc). And yeah, in the realms of C, allocating
> space for a function is meaningless as we know sizeof a function makes
> no sense. :)

It *doesn't matter* whether the object being allocated happens to
have the same size as a void*.

Suppose you're allocating a struct object rather than a
pointer-to-function object. Suppose void* is 4 bytes, and your
structure is 1024 bytes. The issues are exactly the same as in the
case you're looking at.

For struct allocation, you need to convert (probably implicitly)
the void* value returned by malloc() to a pointer to the struct.

For pointer-to-function allocation, you need to convert (probably
implicitly) the void* value returned by malloc() to a pointer to
the pointer-to-function.

Pay careful attention to the parallel construction of the two preceding
paragraphs.

I think the fact that the object you're allocating is a pointer is
causing you to confuse the pointer object being allocated with a
pointer *to* that pointer object.  They're at two different levels
of indirection, and their relative sizes are not relevant.

You're imagining a special case where there really isn't one.

-- 
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org  <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
    Will write code for food.
"We must do something.  This is something.  Therefore, we must do this."
    -- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

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Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Myth__Buster <raghavanil4m@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 09:08 -0700
  Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc "christian.bau" <christian.bau@cbau.wanadoo.co.uk> - 2012-06-25 09:16 -0700
    Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Myth__Buster <raghavanil4m@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 12:08 -0700
      Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-25 15:27 -0400
      Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Eric Sosman <esosman@ieee-dot-org.invalid> - 2012-06-25 15:30 -0400
        Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Myth__Buster <raghavanil4m@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 12:47 -0700
          Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Eric Sosman <esosman@ieee-dot-org.invalid> - 2012-06-25 16:10 -0400
      Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-06-25 20:42 +0100
        Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Myth__Buster <raghavanil4m@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 13:14 -0700
          Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine --   void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-06-26 08:30 +1200
            Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Myth__Buster <raghavanil4m@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 13:53 -0700
              Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine --   void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-06-26 09:00 +1200
              Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-25 17:13 -0400
              Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Myth__Buster <raghavanil4m@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 13:58 -0700
                Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Owen Jacobson <angrybaldguy@gmail.com> - 2012-06-26 00:03 -0400
          Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-25 16:47 -0400
          Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc gordonb.vk4xa@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt) - 2012-06-25 16:06 -0500
          Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-06-25 14:17 -0700
          Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Eric Sosman <esosman@ieee-dot-org.invalid> - 2012-06-25 17:24 -0400
  Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-25 12:52 -0400
    Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Myth__Buster <raghavanil4m@gmail.com> - 2012-06-25 12:28 -0700
      Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-06-25 15:59 -0400
      Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-06-25 14:08 -0700
      Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Nobody <nobody@nowhere.com> - 2012-06-26 21:29 +0100
  Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-06-25 13:13 -0700
  Re: Different sizes of data and function pointers on a machine -- void* return type of malloc, calloc, and realloc Paul N <gw7rib@aol.com> - 2012-06-25 13:17 -0700

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