Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.lang.c > #162196

Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct?

Show all headers | View raw

On 8/2/21 1:48 PM, Ian Pilcher wrote:
> Given the following:
> 
>    struct foo {
>        /* other members */

Note: this is a VLA unless PREFIX_SIZE is a macro that expands to an
integer constant expression.

>        char prefix[PREFIX_SIZE];

This is NOT a VLA - it is a flexible array member:

>        char name[];
>    };
> 
> Is there any circumstance in which the compiler is permitted to insert
> padding between the 'prefix' and 'name' members?
> 
> I'm 99% sure than the answer is no, but I've been unable to track down
> the actual rules anywhere.

"There may be unnamed padding within a structure object, but not at its
beginning." (6.7.2.1p15).

Thus, the only restriction on such padding is that it can't be at the
beginning. I know of no other restrictions on the presence, the size, or
the location of any such padding.

There are some relevant special rules covering flexible array members,
but they don't revoke the permission give by 6.7.2.1p15 to have such
padding:

"... when a . (or ->) operator has a left operand that is
(a pointer to) a structure with a flexible array member and the right
operand names that member, it behaves as if that member were replaced
with the longest array (with the same element type) that would not make
the structure larger than the object being accessed; the offset of the
array shall remain that of the flexible array member, even if this would
differ from that of the replacement array." (6.7.2.1p18)

Since the replacement array would be allowed to have padding that
separates it from the prefix array, then that is also permitted for the
flexible array member.

Back to comp.lang.c | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Ian Pilcher <arequipeno@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 12:48 -0500
  Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2021-08-02 14:07 -0400
    Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 11:25 -0700
      Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2021-08-02 19:21 -0400
  Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-08-02 19:11 +0100
    Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 11:27 -0700
      Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-08-02 20:43 +0100
        Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Andrey Tarasevich <andreytarasevich@hotmail.com> - 2021-08-02 13:11 -0700
          Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Andrey Tarasevich <andreytarasevich@hotmail.com> - 2021-08-02 13:18 -0700
          Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 13:31 -0700
            Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Andrey Tarasevich <andreytarasevich@hotmail.com> - 2021-08-02 19:50 -0700
              Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-08-04 14:01 +0200
        Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 13:19 -0700
        Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2021-08-03 10:40 -0500
          Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Andrey Tarasevich <andreytarasevich@hotmail.com> - 2021-08-03 09:10 -0700
            Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2021-08-03 12:52 -0500
              Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2021-08-04 12:05 -0500
  Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 11:12 -0700
    Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-08-02 19:23 +0100
      Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 13:15 -0700
  Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Andrey Tarasevich <andreytarasevich@hotmail.com> - 2021-08-02 11:32 -0700
  Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Ian Pilcher <arequipeno@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 13:59 -0500
    Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2021-08-02 12:47 -0700
      Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Ian Pilcher <arequipeno@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 15:27 -0500
        Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 13:36 -0700
        Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? antispam@math.uni.wroc.pl - 2021-08-02 21:52 +0000
    Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-02 13:22 -0700
      Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2021-08-04 17:01 +0200
        Re: Padding between char array/VLA in struct? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-08-04 10:11 -0700

csiph-web