CODEWITHSUNDEEP
cpointersstructpointer-arithmetic
user950891
user950891

Reputation: 971

Pointer arithmetic for structs

Given a struct definition that contains one double and three int variables (4 variables in all), if p is a pointer to this struct with a value 0x1000, what value does p++ have?

This is not a homework problem, so don't worry. I'm just trying to prepare for a test and I can't figure out this practice problem. Thanks

This is in C. Yes I want the value of p after it is incremented. This is a 32-bit machine

Upvotes: 20

Views: 35579

Answers (5)

Saurabh Yadav
Saurabh Yadav

Reputation: 1

A Increment in base address of a data type is equal to base address + sizeof(data type)

Upvotes: 0

Charlie Martin
Charlie Martin

Reputation: 112356

The answer is that it is at least 

sizeof(double) + (3*sizeof(int))

Thew reason it's "at least" is that the compiler is more or less free to add padding as needed by the underlying architecture to make it suit alignment constraints.

Let's say, for example, that you have a machine with a 64-bit word, like an old CDC machine. (Hell, some of them had 60-bit words, so it would get weirder yet.) Further assume that on that machine, sizeof(double) is 64 bits, while sizeof(int) is 16 bits. The compiler might then lay out your struct as

| double     | int | int | int | 16 bits padding |

so that the whole struct could be passed through the machine in 2 memory references, with no shifting or messing about needed. In that case, sizeof(yourstruct_s) would be 16, where sizeof(double)+ (3*sizeof(int)) is only 48 14.

Update

Observe this could be true on a 32-bit machine as well: then you might need padding to fit it into three words. I don't know of a modern machine that doesn't address down to the byte, so it may be hard to find an example now, but a bunch of older architectures ould need this.

Upvotes: 5

tangrs
tangrs

Reputation: 9930

struct foobar *p;
p = 0x1000; 
p++;

is the same as

struct foobar *p;
p = 0x1000 + sizeof(struct foobar);

Upvotes: 30

nos
nos

Reputation: 229088

Pointer arithmetic is done in units of the size of the pointer type.

So if you do p++ on a pointer to your struct, p will advance by sizeof *p bytes. i.e. just ask your compiler for how big your struct is with the sizeof operator.

Upvotes: 5

James
James

Reputation: 9278

p = p + sizeof(YourStruct)

The compiler is free to decide what sizeof will return if you don't turn padding off.

Upvotes: 3

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