CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++cdefinitionparentheses
zwhconst
zwhconst

Reputation: 1463

Type definition in parentheses

I compiled these codes in MSVC:

int a=sizeof(struct{char c;});

and

int b=((struct{char c;} *)0,0);

and

printf("%p",(struct{char c;} *)0);

As C codes, they can pass compiling, with a warning (warning c4116: unnamed type definition in parentheses. If you give a name, it's "warning c4115: "Whatever" : named type definition in parentheses");
As C++ codes, they are compiled with a bunch of errors.

My questions are:
1. In C, are type definitions in parentheses valid? Why do I get that warning?
2. In C++, are type definitions in parentheses valid?

EDIT :
3. Why?

Upvotes: 4

Views: 3276

Answers (2)

ecatmur
ecatmur

Reputation: 157344

In C, sizeof can be applied to any type-name that is not an incomplete type (6.5.3.4p1); a struct-or-union-specifier that contains a struct declaration list (6.7.2.1p1) is a type-specifier and thus a type-name. MSVC's warning is there for two reasons: first, because some older compilers (or a C++ compiler used as a C compiler) might not support this usage, and second, because it's unusual and might not be what you intended.

In C++, sizeof can be applied to a type-id; a class-specifier is a type-specifier and thus a type-id, but a class specifier that defines a class (or an enum specifier that defines an enumeration) can only appear in a class declaration or a using declaration (7.1.6p3). This is probably because C++ classes can have linkage and allowing them to appear in general expressions (not just definitions) would complicate this.

Upvotes: 5

ouah
ouah

Reputation: 145829

In C:

sizeof(struct{char c;})

and

sizeof((struct{char c;} *)0,0)

are both valid expressions. An implementation is free to issue an additional informational diagnostic messages for valid C code.

Upvotes: 3

Related Questions