Is it possible to get a pointer to one subobject via a pointer to a different, unreleated subobject?Where in the C++ Standard is the memory layout of objects documented?What are the differences between a pointer variable and a reference variable in C++?Is the Empty Base Class Optimization now a mandatory optimization (at least for standard-layout classes)?Pointer arithmetic across subobject boundariesWhy is f(i = -1, i = -1) undefined behavior?What makes it possible for glibc malloc to compare pointers from different “objects”?Can an equality comparison of unrelated pointers evaluate to true?Compatibility between structs with differently const-qualified pointersGuaranteed memory layout for standard layout struct with a single array member of primitive typeUsing std::launder to get a pointer to an active union member from a pointer to an inactive union member?Accessing the members of a struct referenced by a void pointer
Floating Point XOR
Audire, with accusative or dative?
Debussy as term for bathroom?
What is the maximum viable speed for a projectile within earth's atmosphere?
Make Interviewee Comfortable in Potentially Intimate Environment
Why is the stock market so unpredictable?
Prove that the area of the trangles are equal.
Minimize taxes now that I earn more
Is a global DNS record a security risk for phpMyAdmin?
Who are the people reviewing far more papers than they're submitting for review?
What are the end bytes of *.docx file format
Can I separate garlic into cloves for storage?
Persuading players to be less attached to a pre-session 0 character concept
How often is duct tape used during crewed space missions?
Flying pigs arrive
How should errors be reported in scientific libraries?
Borrowing observations for prior probability in Bayesian Inference
Should the pagination be reset when changing the order?
How to influence manager to not schedule team meetings during lunch?
SMTP banner mismatch with multiple MX records
Is there any reason nowadays to use a neon indicator lamp instead of a LED?
What do solvers like Gurobi and CPLEX do when they run into hard instances of MIP
Why do things cool down?
Twelve Minesweeper mines that make twelve 4s
Is it possible to get a pointer to one subobject via a pointer to a different, unreleated subobject?
Where in the C++ Standard is the memory layout of objects documented?What are the differences between a pointer variable and a reference variable in C++?Is the Empty Base Class Optimization now a mandatory optimization (at least for standard-layout classes)?Pointer arithmetic across subobject boundariesWhy is f(i = -1, i = -1) undefined behavior?What makes it possible for glibc malloc to compare pointers from different “objects”?Can an equality comparison of unrelated pointers evaluate to true?Compatibility between structs with differently const-qualified pointersGuaranteed memory layout for standard layout struct with a single array member of primitive typeUsing std::launder to get a pointer to an active union member from a pointer to an inactive union member?Accessing the members of a struct referenced by a void pointer
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
Look at this simple code:
struct Point
int x;
int y;
;
void something(int *);
int main()
Point p1, 2;
something(&p.x);
return p.y;
I expect, that main
's return value can be optimized to return 2;
, as something
doesn't have access to p.y
, it only gets a pointer to p.x
.
But, none of the major compilers optimize the return value of main
to 2
. Godbolt.
Is there something in the standard, which allows something
to modify p.y
, if we only give access to p.x
? If yes, does this depend on whether Point
has standard layout?
What if I use something(&p.y);
, and return p.x;
instead?
c++ language-lawyer c++17
add a comment
|
Look at this simple code:
struct Point
int x;
int y;
;
void something(int *);
int main()
Point p1, 2;
something(&p.x);
return p.y;
I expect, that main
's return value can be optimized to return 2;
, as something
doesn't have access to p.y
, it only gets a pointer to p.x
.
But, none of the major compilers optimize the return value of main
to 2
. Godbolt.
Is there something in the standard, which allows something
to modify p.y
, if we only give access to p.x
? If yes, does this depend on whether Point
has standard layout?
What if I use something(&p.y);
, and return p.x;
instead?
c++ language-lawyer c++17
1
I don't understand the downvote and the flag. This is perfectly reasonable question to me.
– Zereges
8 hours ago
stackoverflow.com/questions/50803202/… "Implementation alignment requirements might cause two adjacent members not to be allocated immediately after each other"
– alter igel
8 hours ago
@alterigel: this shouldn't matter, as we can useoffsetof
. But I'm not sure that we can actually get a pointer top.y
fromp.x
, with the new pointer semantic rules of C++17.std::launder
cannot be used, as a pointer top.x
can only reachp.x
. So even if I could move the pointer to the correct location, maybe that pointer won't point to the object ofp.y
.
– geza
8 hours ago
If you change it tovoid something(int * x) *(x+1) = 6;
it optimizes the return value to a fixed6
, so the compiler at least sees that as a valid option to do.
– t.niese
8 hours ago
1
@zereges, didn't downvote, but almost did. The question is very hard to parse. I believe the OP is asking: "why can't the compiler realize the something() function will not modify p.y ?" If the OP asked that directly, there'd be less downvotes.
– Jeffrey
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
Look at this simple code:
struct Point
int x;
int y;
;
void something(int *);
int main()
Point p1, 2;
something(&p.x);
return p.y;
I expect, that main
's return value can be optimized to return 2;
, as something
doesn't have access to p.y
, it only gets a pointer to p.x
.
But, none of the major compilers optimize the return value of main
to 2
. Godbolt.
Is there something in the standard, which allows something
to modify p.y
, if we only give access to p.x
? If yes, does this depend on whether Point
has standard layout?
What if I use something(&p.y);
, and return p.x;
instead?
c++ language-lawyer c++17
Look at this simple code:
struct Point
int x;
int y;
;
void something(int *);
int main()
Point p1, 2;
something(&p.x);
return p.y;
I expect, that main
's return value can be optimized to return 2;
, as something
doesn't have access to p.y
, it only gets a pointer to p.x
.
But, none of the major compilers optimize the return value of main
to 2
. Godbolt.
Is there something in the standard, which allows something
to modify p.y
, if we only give access to p.x
? If yes, does this depend on whether Point
has standard layout?
What if I use something(&p.y);
, and return p.x;
instead?
c++ language-lawyer c++17
c++ language-lawyer c++17
edited 8 hours ago
geza
asked 8 hours ago
gezageza
16.6k3 gold badges40 silver badges97 bronze badges
16.6k3 gold badges40 silver badges97 bronze badges
1
I don't understand the downvote and the flag. This is perfectly reasonable question to me.
– Zereges
8 hours ago
stackoverflow.com/questions/50803202/… "Implementation alignment requirements might cause two adjacent members not to be allocated immediately after each other"
– alter igel
8 hours ago
@alterigel: this shouldn't matter, as we can useoffsetof
. But I'm not sure that we can actually get a pointer top.y
fromp.x
, with the new pointer semantic rules of C++17.std::launder
cannot be used, as a pointer top.x
can only reachp.x
. So even if I could move the pointer to the correct location, maybe that pointer won't point to the object ofp.y
.
– geza
8 hours ago
If you change it tovoid something(int * x) *(x+1) = 6;
it optimizes the return value to a fixed6
, so the compiler at least sees that as a valid option to do.
– t.niese
8 hours ago
1
@zereges, didn't downvote, but almost did. The question is very hard to parse. I believe the OP is asking: "why can't the compiler realize the something() function will not modify p.y ?" If the OP asked that directly, there'd be less downvotes.
– Jeffrey
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
1
I don't understand the downvote and the flag. This is perfectly reasonable question to me.
– Zereges
8 hours ago
stackoverflow.com/questions/50803202/… "Implementation alignment requirements might cause two adjacent members not to be allocated immediately after each other"
– alter igel
8 hours ago
@alterigel: this shouldn't matter, as we can useoffsetof
. But I'm not sure that we can actually get a pointer top.y
fromp.x
, with the new pointer semantic rules of C++17.std::launder
cannot be used, as a pointer top.x
can only reachp.x
. So even if I could move the pointer to the correct location, maybe that pointer won't point to the object ofp.y
.
– geza
8 hours ago
If you change it tovoid something(int * x) *(x+1) = 6;
it optimizes the return value to a fixed6
, so the compiler at least sees that as a valid option to do.
– t.niese
8 hours ago
1
@zereges, didn't downvote, but almost did. The question is very hard to parse. I believe the OP is asking: "why can't the compiler realize the something() function will not modify p.y ?" If the OP asked that directly, there'd be less downvotes.
– Jeffrey
8 hours ago
1
1
I don't understand the downvote and the flag. This is perfectly reasonable question to me.
– Zereges
8 hours ago
I don't understand the downvote and the flag. This is perfectly reasonable question to me.
– Zereges
8 hours ago
stackoverflow.com/questions/50803202/… "Implementation alignment requirements might cause two adjacent members not to be allocated immediately after each other"
– alter igel
8 hours ago
stackoverflow.com/questions/50803202/… "Implementation alignment requirements might cause two adjacent members not to be allocated immediately after each other"
– alter igel
8 hours ago
@alterigel: this shouldn't matter, as we can use
offsetof
. But I'm not sure that we can actually get a pointer to p.y
from p.x
, with the new pointer semantic rules of C++17. std::launder
cannot be used, as a pointer to p.x
can only reach p.x
. So even if I could move the pointer to the correct location, maybe that pointer won't point to the object of p.y
.– geza
8 hours ago
@alterigel: this shouldn't matter, as we can use
offsetof
. But I'm not sure that we can actually get a pointer to p.y
from p.x
, with the new pointer semantic rules of C++17. std::launder
cannot be used, as a pointer to p.x
can only reach p.x
. So even if I could move the pointer to the correct location, maybe that pointer won't point to the object of p.y
.– geza
8 hours ago
If you change it to
void something(int * x) *(x+1) = 6;
it optimizes the return value to a fixed 6
, so the compiler at least sees that as a valid option to do.– t.niese
8 hours ago
If you change it to
void something(int * x) *(x+1) = 6;
it optimizes the return value to a fixed 6
, so the compiler at least sees that as a valid option to do.– t.niese
8 hours ago
1
1
@zereges, didn't downvote, but almost did. The question is very hard to parse. I believe the OP is asking: "why can't the compiler realize the something() function will not modify p.y ?" If the OP asked that directly, there'd be less downvotes.
– Jeffrey
8 hours ago
@zereges, didn't downvote, but almost did. The question is very hard to parse. I believe the OP is asking: "why can't the compiler realize the something() function will not modify p.y ?" If the OP asked that directly, there'd be less downvotes.
– Jeffrey
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
This is perfectly well-defined:
void something(int *x)
reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)->y = 42;
The Point
object (p
) and its x
member are pointer-interconvertible, from [basic.compound]:
Two objects a and b are pointer-interconvertible if:
- [...]
- one is a standard-layout class object and the other is the first non-static data member of that object, or, if the object has no non-static data members, any base class subobject of that object ([class.mem]), or:
- [...]
If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a
reinterpret_cast
.
That reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)
is valid and does end up with a pointer that points to p
. Hence, modifying it directly is fine. As you can see, the standard-layout part and the first non-static data member part are significant.
Although it's not like the compilers in question optimize out the extra load if you pass a pointer to p.y
in and return p.x
instead.
1
Thanks, I knew that I left a hole in my question. So, if I usedsomething(&p.y); return p.x;
, then it is clearly a missed optimization?
– geza
8 hours ago
@geza For some definition of "clearly". There almost certainly exists a lot of code that does things like this that such an optimization would break.
– Barry
8 hours ago
1
@geza Technically, yes, it would be a missed optimization then, but I don't think major compilers, at this time, are prepared to break all the existing code that usesoffsetof
.
– Brian
8 hours ago
Doesn't that violate the strict-aliasing rule? Or is that a C-only rule?
– sturcotte06
8 hours ago
1
@sturcotte06 it does not because of If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a reinterpret_cast.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
Given a POD structure (trivial with a standard layout, such as Point), you could change y as follows, even if x was not the first field in the object:
void something(int *data)
data[(offsetof(Point, y)- offsetof(Point, x))/sizeof(int)] = 3;
You might want to reread the question. The OP is not asking about this.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The OP says Is there something in the standard, which allows something to modify p.y, if we only give access to p.x?
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Correct. You are talking about an array, not whether or notsomething
could modifyy
given a pointer tox
.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The result will be the same. It is not possible for the compiler to optimize, as the data is freely changeable by something given its prototype.
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Sure, but arrays are different than structs and you cannot treat a pointer to a member as a pointer to an array. You also don't back up you claim with any text from the standard.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function ()
StackExchange.using("snippets", function ()
StackExchange.snippets.init();
);
);
, "code-snippets");
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "1"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"u003ecc by-sa 4.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fstackoverflow.com%2fquestions%2f57979009%2fis-it-possible-to-get-a-pointer-to-one-subobject-via-a-pointer-to-a-different-u%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
This is perfectly well-defined:
void something(int *x)
reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)->y = 42;
The Point
object (p
) and its x
member are pointer-interconvertible, from [basic.compound]:
Two objects a and b are pointer-interconvertible if:
- [...]
- one is a standard-layout class object and the other is the first non-static data member of that object, or, if the object has no non-static data members, any base class subobject of that object ([class.mem]), or:
- [...]
If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a
reinterpret_cast
.
That reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)
is valid and does end up with a pointer that points to p
. Hence, modifying it directly is fine. As you can see, the standard-layout part and the first non-static data member part are significant.
Although it's not like the compilers in question optimize out the extra load if you pass a pointer to p.y
in and return p.x
instead.
1
Thanks, I knew that I left a hole in my question. So, if I usedsomething(&p.y); return p.x;
, then it is clearly a missed optimization?
– geza
8 hours ago
@geza For some definition of "clearly". There almost certainly exists a lot of code that does things like this that such an optimization would break.
– Barry
8 hours ago
1
@geza Technically, yes, it would be a missed optimization then, but I don't think major compilers, at this time, are prepared to break all the existing code that usesoffsetof
.
– Brian
8 hours ago
Doesn't that violate the strict-aliasing rule? Or is that a C-only rule?
– sturcotte06
8 hours ago
1
@sturcotte06 it does not because of If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a reinterpret_cast.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
This is perfectly well-defined:
void something(int *x)
reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)->y = 42;
The Point
object (p
) and its x
member are pointer-interconvertible, from [basic.compound]:
Two objects a and b are pointer-interconvertible if:
- [...]
- one is a standard-layout class object and the other is the first non-static data member of that object, or, if the object has no non-static data members, any base class subobject of that object ([class.mem]), or:
- [...]
If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a
reinterpret_cast
.
That reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)
is valid and does end up with a pointer that points to p
. Hence, modifying it directly is fine. As you can see, the standard-layout part and the first non-static data member part are significant.
Although it's not like the compilers in question optimize out the extra load if you pass a pointer to p.y
in and return p.x
instead.
1
Thanks, I knew that I left a hole in my question. So, if I usedsomething(&p.y); return p.x;
, then it is clearly a missed optimization?
– geza
8 hours ago
@geza For some definition of "clearly". There almost certainly exists a lot of code that does things like this that such an optimization would break.
– Barry
8 hours ago
1
@geza Technically, yes, it would be a missed optimization then, but I don't think major compilers, at this time, are prepared to break all the existing code that usesoffsetof
.
– Brian
8 hours ago
Doesn't that violate the strict-aliasing rule? Or is that a C-only rule?
– sturcotte06
8 hours ago
1
@sturcotte06 it does not because of If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a reinterpret_cast.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
This is perfectly well-defined:
void something(int *x)
reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)->y = 42;
The Point
object (p
) and its x
member are pointer-interconvertible, from [basic.compound]:
Two objects a and b are pointer-interconvertible if:
- [...]
- one is a standard-layout class object and the other is the first non-static data member of that object, or, if the object has no non-static data members, any base class subobject of that object ([class.mem]), or:
- [...]
If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a
reinterpret_cast
.
That reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)
is valid and does end up with a pointer that points to p
. Hence, modifying it directly is fine. As you can see, the standard-layout part and the first non-static data member part are significant.
Although it's not like the compilers in question optimize out the extra load if you pass a pointer to p.y
in and return p.x
instead.
This is perfectly well-defined:
void something(int *x)
reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)->y = 42;
The Point
object (p
) and its x
member are pointer-interconvertible, from [basic.compound]:
Two objects a and b are pointer-interconvertible if:
- [...]
- one is a standard-layout class object and the other is the first non-static data member of that object, or, if the object has no non-static data members, any base class subobject of that object ([class.mem]), or:
- [...]
If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a
reinterpret_cast
.
That reinterpret_cast<Point*>(x)
is valid and does end up with a pointer that points to p
. Hence, modifying it directly is fine. As you can see, the standard-layout part and the first non-static data member part are significant.
Although it's not like the compilers in question optimize out the extra load if you pass a pointer to p.y
in and return p.x
instead.
edited 8 hours ago
T.C.
111k14 gold badges229 silver badges338 bronze badges
111k14 gold badges229 silver badges338 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
BarryBarry
200k22 gold badges373 silver badges665 bronze badges
200k22 gold badges373 silver badges665 bronze badges
1
Thanks, I knew that I left a hole in my question. So, if I usedsomething(&p.y); return p.x;
, then it is clearly a missed optimization?
– geza
8 hours ago
@geza For some definition of "clearly". There almost certainly exists a lot of code that does things like this that such an optimization would break.
– Barry
8 hours ago
1
@geza Technically, yes, it would be a missed optimization then, but I don't think major compilers, at this time, are prepared to break all the existing code that usesoffsetof
.
– Brian
8 hours ago
Doesn't that violate the strict-aliasing rule? Or is that a C-only rule?
– sturcotte06
8 hours ago
1
@sturcotte06 it does not because of If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a reinterpret_cast.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
1
Thanks, I knew that I left a hole in my question. So, if I usedsomething(&p.y); return p.x;
, then it is clearly a missed optimization?
– geza
8 hours ago
@geza For some definition of "clearly". There almost certainly exists a lot of code that does things like this that such an optimization would break.
– Barry
8 hours ago
1
@geza Technically, yes, it would be a missed optimization then, but I don't think major compilers, at this time, are prepared to break all the existing code that usesoffsetof
.
– Brian
8 hours ago
Doesn't that violate the strict-aliasing rule? Or is that a C-only rule?
– sturcotte06
8 hours ago
1
@sturcotte06 it does not because of If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a reinterpret_cast.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
1
1
Thanks, I knew that I left a hole in my question. So, if I used
something(&p.y); return p.x;
, then it is clearly a missed optimization?– geza
8 hours ago
Thanks, I knew that I left a hole in my question. So, if I used
something(&p.y); return p.x;
, then it is clearly a missed optimization?– geza
8 hours ago
@geza For some definition of "clearly". There almost certainly exists a lot of code that does things like this that such an optimization would break.
– Barry
8 hours ago
@geza For some definition of "clearly". There almost certainly exists a lot of code that does things like this that such an optimization would break.
– Barry
8 hours ago
1
1
@geza Technically, yes, it would be a missed optimization then, but I don't think major compilers, at this time, are prepared to break all the existing code that uses
offsetof
.– Brian
8 hours ago
@geza Technically, yes, it would be a missed optimization then, but I don't think major compilers, at this time, are prepared to break all the existing code that uses
offsetof
.– Brian
8 hours ago
Doesn't that violate the strict-aliasing rule? Or is that a C-only rule?
– sturcotte06
8 hours ago
Doesn't that violate the strict-aliasing rule? Or is that a C-only rule?
– sturcotte06
8 hours ago
1
1
@sturcotte06 it does not because of If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a reinterpret_cast.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
@sturcotte06 it does not because of If two objects are pointer-interconvertible, then they have the same address, and it is possible to obtain a pointer to one from a pointer to the other via a reinterpret_cast.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
Given a POD structure (trivial with a standard layout, such as Point), you could change y as follows, even if x was not the first field in the object:
void something(int *data)
data[(offsetof(Point, y)- offsetof(Point, x))/sizeof(int)] = 3;
You might want to reread the question. The OP is not asking about this.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The OP says Is there something in the standard, which allows something to modify p.y, if we only give access to p.x?
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Correct. You are talking about an array, not whether or notsomething
could modifyy
given a pointer tox
.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The result will be the same. It is not possible for the compiler to optimize, as the data is freely changeable by something given its prototype.
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Sure, but arrays are different than structs and you cannot treat a pointer to a member as a pointer to an array. You also don't back up you claim with any text from the standard.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
Given a POD structure (trivial with a standard layout, such as Point), you could change y as follows, even if x was not the first field in the object:
void something(int *data)
data[(offsetof(Point, y)- offsetof(Point, x))/sizeof(int)] = 3;
You might want to reread the question. The OP is not asking about this.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The OP says Is there something in the standard, which allows something to modify p.y, if we only give access to p.x?
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Correct. You are talking about an array, not whether or notsomething
could modifyy
given a pointer tox
.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The result will be the same. It is not possible for the compiler to optimize, as the data is freely changeable by something given its prototype.
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Sure, but arrays are different than structs and you cannot treat a pointer to a member as a pointer to an array. You also don't back up you claim with any text from the standard.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
Given a POD structure (trivial with a standard layout, such as Point), you could change y as follows, even if x was not the first field in the object:
void something(int *data)
data[(offsetof(Point, y)- offsetof(Point, x))/sizeof(int)] = 3;
Given a POD structure (trivial with a standard layout, such as Point), you could change y as follows, even if x was not the first field in the object:
void something(int *data)
data[(offsetof(Point, y)- offsetof(Point, x))/sizeof(int)] = 3;
edited 7 hours ago
answered 8 hours ago
Gonen IGonen I
2,07714 silver badges31 bronze badges
2,07714 silver badges31 bronze badges
You might want to reread the question. The OP is not asking about this.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The OP says Is there something in the standard, which allows something to modify p.y, if we only give access to p.x?
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Correct. You are talking about an array, not whether or notsomething
could modifyy
given a pointer tox
.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The result will be the same. It is not possible for the compiler to optimize, as the data is freely changeable by something given its prototype.
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Sure, but arrays are different than structs and you cannot treat a pointer to a member as a pointer to an array. You also don't back up you claim with any text from the standard.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
You might want to reread the question. The OP is not asking about this.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The OP says Is there something in the standard, which allows something to modify p.y, if we only give access to p.x?
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Correct. You are talking about an array, not whether or notsomething
could modifyy
given a pointer tox
.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The result will be the same. It is not possible for the compiler to optimize, as the data is freely changeable by something given its prototype.
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Sure, but arrays are different than structs and you cannot treat a pointer to a member as a pointer to an array. You also don't back up you claim with any text from the standard.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
You might want to reread the question. The OP is not asking about this.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
You might want to reread the question. The OP is not asking about this.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The OP says Is there something in the standard, which allows something to modify p.y, if we only give access to p.x?
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
The OP says Is there something in the standard, which allows something to modify p.y, if we only give access to p.x?
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Correct. You are talking about an array, not whether or not
something
could modify y
given a pointer to x
.– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
Correct. You are talking about an array, not whether or not
something
could modify y
given a pointer to x
.– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
The result will be the same. It is not possible for the compiler to optimize, as the data is freely changeable by something given its prototype.
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
The result will be the same. It is not possible for the compiler to optimize, as the data is freely changeable by something given its prototype.
– Gonen I
8 hours ago
Sure, but arrays are different than structs and you cannot treat a pointer to a member as a pointer to an array. You also don't back up you claim with any text from the standard.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
Sure, but arrays are different than structs and you cannot treat a pointer to a member as a pointer to an array. You also don't back up you claim with any text from the standard.
– NathanOliver
8 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
Thanks for contributing an answer to Stack Overflow!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fstackoverflow.com%2fquestions%2f57979009%2fis-it-possible-to-get-a-pointer-to-one-subobject-via-a-pointer-to-a-different-u%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
I don't understand the downvote and the flag. This is perfectly reasonable question to me.
– Zereges
8 hours ago
stackoverflow.com/questions/50803202/… "Implementation alignment requirements might cause two adjacent members not to be allocated immediately after each other"
– alter igel
8 hours ago
@alterigel: this shouldn't matter, as we can use
offsetof
. But I'm not sure that we can actually get a pointer top.y
fromp.x
, with the new pointer semantic rules of C++17.std::launder
cannot be used, as a pointer top.x
can only reachp.x
. So even if I could move the pointer to the correct location, maybe that pointer won't point to the object ofp.y
.– geza
8 hours ago
If you change it to
void something(int * x) *(x+1) = 6;
it optimizes the return value to a fixed6
, so the compiler at least sees that as a valid option to do.– t.niese
8 hours ago
1
@zereges, didn't downvote, but almost did. The question is very hard to parse. I believe the OP is asking: "why can't the compiler realize the something() function will not modify p.y ?" If the OP asked that directly, there'd be less downvotes.
– Jeffrey
8 hours ago