Does the confliction between declaration and definition cause undefined behavior?












12















For example, in one source file:



extern int a[10];
int main()
{
(void)sizeof(a);
return 0;
}


and in a second source file we have:



int a[20];//different with the first source 


Does the code above cause undefined behavior? As far as I know, in C it says:




All declarations that refer to the same object or function shall have compatible type; otherwise, the behavior is undefined.




Are int[10] and int[20] compatible(in c's view)? And what about C++ standard?



Besides, if there is no second source file, is it legal to use sizeof(a) (a has just a declaration) ?










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    1. Yes it does cause UB 2. Yes it is legal.

    – n.m.
    Nov 27 '18 at 4:24











  • @n.m. Does standard ever covered this situation? I cannot find that.

    – bigxiao
    Nov 27 '18 at 4:25






  • 4





    You're asking about 2 languages, so this is like 3 questions in one

    – Antti Haapala
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:21








  • 2





    @AnttiHaapala I believe it is a valid question, the OP has some notion of what it says in C and wants to know if it is undefined behavior and also wants to understand if it applies to C++. It might be worded better.

    – Shafik Yaghmour
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:25






  • 1





    @ShafikYaghmour bad precedent. The current tag wiki says: "A question should be tagged with both c and c++ if it is about: * Specific differences between C and C++". This is the question 3. The questions 1 and 2 are the C++ and C questions whether these definitions are compatible.

    – Antti Haapala
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:34
















12















For example, in one source file:



extern int a[10];
int main()
{
(void)sizeof(a);
return 0;
}


and in a second source file we have:



int a[20];//different with the first source 


Does the code above cause undefined behavior? As far as I know, in C it says:




All declarations that refer to the same object or function shall have compatible type; otherwise, the behavior is undefined.




Are int[10] and int[20] compatible(in c's view)? And what about C++ standard?



Besides, if there is no second source file, is it legal to use sizeof(a) (a has just a declaration) ?










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    1. Yes it does cause UB 2. Yes it is legal.

    – n.m.
    Nov 27 '18 at 4:24











  • @n.m. Does standard ever covered this situation? I cannot find that.

    – bigxiao
    Nov 27 '18 at 4:25






  • 4





    You're asking about 2 languages, so this is like 3 questions in one

    – Antti Haapala
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:21








  • 2





    @AnttiHaapala I believe it is a valid question, the OP has some notion of what it says in C and wants to know if it is undefined behavior and also wants to understand if it applies to C++. It might be worded better.

    – Shafik Yaghmour
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:25






  • 1





    @ShafikYaghmour bad precedent. The current tag wiki says: "A question should be tagged with both c and c++ if it is about: * Specific differences between C and C++". This is the question 3. The questions 1 and 2 are the C++ and C questions whether these definitions are compatible.

    – Antti Haapala
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:34














12












12








12








For example, in one source file:



extern int a[10];
int main()
{
(void)sizeof(a);
return 0;
}


and in a second source file we have:



int a[20];//different with the first source 


Does the code above cause undefined behavior? As far as I know, in C it says:




All declarations that refer to the same object or function shall have compatible type; otherwise, the behavior is undefined.




Are int[10] and int[20] compatible(in c's view)? And what about C++ standard?



Besides, if there is no second source file, is it legal to use sizeof(a) (a has just a declaration) ?










share|improve this question
















For example, in one source file:



extern int a[10];
int main()
{
(void)sizeof(a);
return 0;
}


and in a second source file we have:



int a[20];//different with the first source 


Does the code above cause undefined behavior? As far as I know, in C it says:




All declarations that refer to the same object or function shall have compatible type; otherwise, the behavior is undefined.




Are int[10] and int[20] compatible(in c's view)? And what about C++ standard?



Besides, if there is no second source file, is it legal to use sizeof(a) (a has just a declaration) ?







c++ c language-lawyer undefined-behavior






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Nov 27 '18 at 7:34









Lundin

110k17161265




110k17161265










asked Nov 27 '18 at 4:16









bigxiaobigxiao

1,621923




1,621923








  • 1





    1. Yes it does cause UB 2. Yes it is legal.

    – n.m.
    Nov 27 '18 at 4:24











  • @n.m. Does standard ever covered this situation? I cannot find that.

    – bigxiao
    Nov 27 '18 at 4:25






  • 4





    You're asking about 2 languages, so this is like 3 questions in one

    – Antti Haapala
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:21








  • 2





    @AnttiHaapala I believe it is a valid question, the OP has some notion of what it says in C and wants to know if it is undefined behavior and also wants to understand if it applies to C++. It might be worded better.

    – Shafik Yaghmour
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:25






  • 1





    @ShafikYaghmour bad precedent. The current tag wiki says: "A question should be tagged with both c and c++ if it is about: * Specific differences between C and C++". This is the question 3. The questions 1 and 2 are the C++ and C questions whether these definitions are compatible.

    – Antti Haapala
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:34














  • 1





    1. Yes it does cause UB 2. Yes it is legal.

    – n.m.
    Nov 27 '18 at 4:24











  • @n.m. Does standard ever covered this situation? I cannot find that.

    – bigxiao
    Nov 27 '18 at 4:25






  • 4





    You're asking about 2 languages, so this is like 3 questions in one

    – Antti Haapala
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:21








  • 2





    @AnttiHaapala I believe it is a valid question, the OP has some notion of what it says in C and wants to know if it is undefined behavior and also wants to understand if it applies to C++. It might be worded better.

    – Shafik Yaghmour
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:25






  • 1





    @ShafikYaghmour bad precedent. The current tag wiki says: "A question should be tagged with both c and c++ if it is about: * Specific differences between C and C++". This is the question 3. The questions 1 and 2 are the C++ and C questions whether these definitions are compatible.

    – Antti Haapala
    Nov 27 '18 at 5:34








1




1





1. Yes it does cause UB 2. Yes it is legal.

– n.m.
Nov 27 '18 at 4:24





1. Yes it does cause UB 2. Yes it is legal.

– n.m.
Nov 27 '18 at 4:24













@n.m. Does standard ever covered this situation? I cannot find that.

– bigxiao
Nov 27 '18 at 4:25





@n.m. Does standard ever covered this situation? I cannot find that.

– bigxiao
Nov 27 '18 at 4:25




4




4





You're asking about 2 languages, so this is like 3 questions in one

– Antti Haapala
Nov 27 '18 at 5:21







You're asking about 2 languages, so this is like 3 questions in one

– Antti Haapala
Nov 27 '18 at 5:21






2




2





@AnttiHaapala I believe it is a valid question, the OP has some notion of what it says in C and wants to know if it is undefined behavior and also wants to understand if it applies to C++. It might be worded better.

– Shafik Yaghmour
Nov 27 '18 at 5:25





@AnttiHaapala I believe it is a valid question, the OP has some notion of what it says in C and wants to know if it is undefined behavior and also wants to understand if it applies to C++. It might be worded better.

– Shafik Yaghmour
Nov 27 '18 at 5:25




1




1





@ShafikYaghmour bad precedent. The current tag wiki says: "A question should be tagged with both c and c++ if it is about: * Specific differences between C and C++". This is the question 3. The questions 1 and 2 are the C++ and C questions whether these definitions are compatible.

– Antti Haapala
Nov 27 '18 at 5:34





@ShafikYaghmour bad precedent. The current tag wiki says: "A question should be tagged with both c and c++ if it is about: * Specific differences between C and C++". This is the question 3. The questions 1 and 2 are the C++ and C questions whether these definitions are compatible.

– Antti Haapala
Nov 27 '18 at 5:34












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















10














Yes this is undefined behavior in C, they are not compatible, see C11 6.7.6.2 Array declarators paragraph 6




For two array types to be compatible, both shall have compatible
element types, and if both size specifiers are present, and are
integer constant expressions, then both size specifiers shall have the
same constant value. If the two array types are used in a context
which requires them to be compatible, it is undefined behavior if the
two size specifiers evaluate to unequal values.




and ill-formed no diagnostic required in C++ from [basic.link]p11:




After all adjustments of types (during which typedefs are replaced by their definitions), the types specified by all declarations referring to a given variable or function shall be identical, except that declarations for an array object can specify array types that differ by the presence or absence of a major array bound ([dcl.array]).
A violation of this rule on type identity does not require a diagnostic.







share|improve this answer

































    1














    Some implementations will treat imported and exported symbols according to the rules defined by a set of conventions for the platform which are typically described in a document which is, in modern parlance, called the Application Binary Interface. If one module (compilation unit) exports an symbol and another imports it, each definition and their interaction will behave as described by the ABI, regardless of the rules of the language of the code that imports or exports the symbols.



    Other implementations, especially those using Whole Program optimization, may treat symbols which are exported from one C compilation unit and used by another in a fashion different from what the ABI would suggest, especially if doing so would allow things to be more efficient, or allow a build system to produce better diagnostics.



    Because both approaches have substantial advantages and disadvantages, the Standard is agnostic as to how implementations handle the interactions between functions in different modules. If a platform ABI happens to define a behavior, and a C implementation documents that C modules interact in the fashion defined by the ABI, then behavior would be defined on that implementation regardless of whether the Standard imposes any requirements. In other cases where the Standard imposes no requirements, anything could happen.






    share|improve this answer























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      2 Answers
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      2 Answers
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      active

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      active

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      active

      oldest

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      10














      Yes this is undefined behavior in C, they are not compatible, see C11 6.7.6.2 Array declarators paragraph 6




      For two array types to be compatible, both shall have compatible
      element types, and if both size specifiers are present, and are
      integer constant expressions, then both size specifiers shall have the
      same constant value. If the two array types are used in a context
      which requires them to be compatible, it is undefined behavior if the
      two size specifiers evaluate to unequal values.




      and ill-formed no diagnostic required in C++ from [basic.link]p11:




      After all adjustments of types (during which typedefs are replaced by their definitions), the types specified by all declarations referring to a given variable or function shall be identical, except that declarations for an array object can specify array types that differ by the presence or absence of a major array bound ([dcl.array]).
      A violation of this rule on type identity does not require a diagnostic.







      share|improve this answer






























        10














        Yes this is undefined behavior in C, they are not compatible, see C11 6.7.6.2 Array declarators paragraph 6




        For two array types to be compatible, both shall have compatible
        element types, and if both size specifiers are present, and are
        integer constant expressions, then both size specifiers shall have the
        same constant value. If the two array types are used in a context
        which requires them to be compatible, it is undefined behavior if the
        two size specifiers evaluate to unequal values.




        and ill-formed no diagnostic required in C++ from [basic.link]p11:




        After all adjustments of types (during which typedefs are replaced by their definitions), the types specified by all declarations referring to a given variable or function shall be identical, except that declarations for an array object can specify array types that differ by the presence or absence of a major array bound ([dcl.array]).
        A violation of this rule on type identity does not require a diagnostic.







        share|improve this answer




























          10












          10








          10







          Yes this is undefined behavior in C, they are not compatible, see C11 6.7.6.2 Array declarators paragraph 6




          For two array types to be compatible, both shall have compatible
          element types, and if both size specifiers are present, and are
          integer constant expressions, then both size specifiers shall have the
          same constant value. If the two array types are used in a context
          which requires them to be compatible, it is undefined behavior if the
          two size specifiers evaluate to unequal values.




          and ill-formed no diagnostic required in C++ from [basic.link]p11:




          After all adjustments of types (during which typedefs are replaced by their definitions), the types specified by all declarations referring to a given variable or function shall be identical, except that declarations for an array object can specify array types that differ by the presence or absence of a major array bound ([dcl.array]).
          A violation of this rule on type identity does not require a diagnostic.







          share|improve this answer















          Yes this is undefined behavior in C, they are not compatible, see C11 6.7.6.2 Array declarators paragraph 6




          For two array types to be compatible, both shall have compatible
          element types, and if both size specifiers are present, and are
          integer constant expressions, then both size specifiers shall have the
          same constant value. If the two array types are used in a context
          which requires them to be compatible, it is undefined behavior if the
          two size specifiers evaluate to unequal values.




          and ill-formed no diagnostic required in C++ from [basic.link]p11:




          After all adjustments of types (during which typedefs are replaced by their definitions), the types specified by all declarations referring to a given variable or function shall be identical, except that declarations for an array object can specify array types that differ by the presence or absence of a major array bound ([dcl.array]).
          A violation of this rule on type identity does not require a diagnostic.








          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Nov 27 '18 at 5:20

























          answered Nov 27 '18 at 5:12









          Shafik YaghmourShafik Yaghmour

          126k23326541




          126k23326541

























              1














              Some implementations will treat imported and exported symbols according to the rules defined by a set of conventions for the platform which are typically described in a document which is, in modern parlance, called the Application Binary Interface. If one module (compilation unit) exports an symbol and another imports it, each definition and their interaction will behave as described by the ABI, regardless of the rules of the language of the code that imports or exports the symbols.



              Other implementations, especially those using Whole Program optimization, may treat symbols which are exported from one C compilation unit and used by another in a fashion different from what the ABI would suggest, especially if doing so would allow things to be more efficient, or allow a build system to produce better diagnostics.



              Because both approaches have substantial advantages and disadvantages, the Standard is agnostic as to how implementations handle the interactions between functions in different modules. If a platform ABI happens to define a behavior, and a C implementation documents that C modules interact in the fashion defined by the ABI, then behavior would be defined on that implementation regardless of whether the Standard imposes any requirements. In other cases where the Standard imposes no requirements, anything could happen.






              share|improve this answer




























                1














                Some implementations will treat imported and exported symbols according to the rules defined by a set of conventions for the platform which are typically described in a document which is, in modern parlance, called the Application Binary Interface. If one module (compilation unit) exports an symbol and another imports it, each definition and their interaction will behave as described by the ABI, regardless of the rules of the language of the code that imports or exports the symbols.



                Other implementations, especially those using Whole Program optimization, may treat symbols which are exported from one C compilation unit and used by another in a fashion different from what the ABI would suggest, especially if doing so would allow things to be more efficient, or allow a build system to produce better diagnostics.



                Because both approaches have substantial advantages and disadvantages, the Standard is agnostic as to how implementations handle the interactions between functions in different modules. If a platform ABI happens to define a behavior, and a C implementation documents that C modules interact in the fashion defined by the ABI, then behavior would be defined on that implementation regardless of whether the Standard imposes any requirements. In other cases where the Standard imposes no requirements, anything could happen.






                share|improve this answer


























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  Some implementations will treat imported and exported symbols according to the rules defined by a set of conventions for the platform which are typically described in a document which is, in modern parlance, called the Application Binary Interface. If one module (compilation unit) exports an symbol and another imports it, each definition and their interaction will behave as described by the ABI, regardless of the rules of the language of the code that imports or exports the symbols.



                  Other implementations, especially those using Whole Program optimization, may treat symbols which are exported from one C compilation unit and used by another in a fashion different from what the ABI would suggest, especially if doing so would allow things to be more efficient, or allow a build system to produce better diagnostics.



                  Because both approaches have substantial advantages and disadvantages, the Standard is agnostic as to how implementations handle the interactions between functions in different modules. If a platform ABI happens to define a behavior, and a C implementation documents that C modules interact in the fashion defined by the ABI, then behavior would be defined on that implementation regardless of whether the Standard imposes any requirements. In other cases where the Standard imposes no requirements, anything could happen.






                  share|improve this answer













                  Some implementations will treat imported and exported symbols according to the rules defined by a set of conventions for the platform which are typically described in a document which is, in modern parlance, called the Application Binary Interface. If one module (compilation unit) exports an symbol and another imports it, each definition and their interaction will behave as described by the ABI, regardless of the rules of the language of the code that imports or exports the symbols.



                  Other implementations, especially those using Whole Program optimization, may treat symbols which are exported from one C compilation unit and used by another in a fashion different from what the ABI would suggest, especially if doing so would allow things to be more efficient, or allow a build system to produce better diagnostics.



                  Because both approaches have substantial advantages and disadvantages, the Standard is agnostic as to how implementations handle the interactions between functions in different modules. If a platform ABI happens to define a behavior, and a C implementation documents that C modules interact in the fashion defined by the ABI, then behavior would be defined on that implementation regardless of whether the Standard imposes any requirements. In other cases where the Standard imposes no requirements, anything could happen.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Nov 27 '18 at 21:26









                  supercatsupercat

                  57.1k3117151




                  57.1k3117151






























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