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<title>C Storage Classes</title>
<head>
<script language="JavaScript">
</script>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffcc">
<center>
<hr>
<h1>C Storage Classes.</h1>
<hr>
</center>
<p>
C has a concept of '<i>Storage classes</i>' which are used to define the
scope (visability) and life time of variables and/or functions.
<p>
So what Storage Classes are available?
<p>
<table border=2 bgcolor=ivory>
<tr>
<td><a href="#auto">auto</a>
<td><a href="#register">register</a>
<td><a href="#static">static</a>
<td><a href="#extern">extern</a>
<td><A HREF="../SYNTAX/typedef.html">typedef</A>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<hr>
<h2><a name="auto">auto - storage class</h2>
<b>auto</b> is the default storage class for local variables.
<pre>
{
int Count;
auto int Month;
}
</pre>
The example above defines two variables with the same storage class.
auto can only be used within functions, i.e. local variables. <p>
<hr>
<h2><a name="register">register - Storage Class</h2>
<b>register</b> is used to define local variables that should be stored
in a register instead of RAM. This means that the variable has a maximum size
equal to the register size (usually one word) and cant have the unary '&'
operator applied to it (as it does not have a memory location).
<pre>
{
register int Miles;
}
</pre>
Register should only be used for variables that require quick access - such
as counters. It should also be noted that defining 'register' goes not mean
that the variable will be stored in a register. It means that it MIGHT be stored
in a register - depending on hardware and implimentation restrictions.<p>
<hr>
<h2><a name="static">static - Storage Class</h2>
<b>static</b> is the default storage class for global variables. The two
variables below (count and road) both have a static storage class.
<pre>
static int Count;
int Road;
{
printf("%d\n", Road);
}
</pre>
static variables can be 'seen' within all functions in this source file. At
link time, the static variables defined here will not be seen by the object
modules that are brought in.<p>
'static' can also be defined within a function! If this is done the variable
is initalised at run time but is not reinitalized when the function is called.
This is serious stuff - tread with care.
<pre>
{
static Count=1;
}
</pre>
Here is an <a href="../EXAMPLES/static.c">example</a><p>
<a name="static2">
There is one very important use for 'static'. Consider this bit of code.
<pre>
char *func(void);
main()
{
char *Text1;
Text1 = func();
}
char *func(void)
{
char Text2[10]="martin";
return(Text2);
}
</pre>
Now, 'func' returns a pointer to the memory location where 'text2' starts
BUT text2 has a storage class of 'auto' and will disappear when we exit the
function and could be overwritten but something else. The answer is to specify
<pre>
static char Text[10]="martin";
</pre>
The storage assigned to 'text2' will remain reserved for the duration if the
program.
<p>
<hr>
<font color=brown>
C++ has overloaded static, <a href="../../CPLUSPLUS/SYNTAX/static.htm">here
are the details.</a>
</font>
<hr>
<h2><a name="extern">extern - storage Class</h2>
<b>extern</b> defines a global variable that is visable to ALL object
modules. When you use 'extern' the variable cannot be initalized as
all it does is point the variable name at a storage location that has
been previously defined.
<table border=2 width="80%" bgcolor="ivory">
<th align=center>
Source 1
</th>
<th>
Source 2
</th>
<tr>
<td>
<pre>
extern int count; int count=5;
write() main()
{ {
printf("count is %d\n", count); write();
} }
</pre>
</td>
<td>
test
</td>
</tr>
</table>
Count in 'source 1' will have a value of 5. If source 1 changes the
value of count - source 2 will see the new value. Here are some example
source files.
<p>
<a href="../EXAMPLES/extern1.c">Source 1</a><br>
<a href="../EXAMPLES/extern2.c">Source 2</a><p>
The compile command will look something like.<p>
<pre>
gcc source1.c source2.c -o program
</pre>
<hr>
<h2>See Also:</h2>
<a href="../CONCEPT/data_types.html">Data types.</a>
<p>
<hr>
<p>
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<p>
<hr>
<address>Martin Leslie
</address><p>
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