static variable

[George_George]

Hello everyone, I am wondering how C or C++ manages static variable internally. Since each time when we again a function again, if in this function, a static variable is defined, the value will be the value last time when we entered this function (i.e. will not be initialized again, and only initialized at the 1st time). I suspect it is stored in some global structure to reserve the value? thanks in advance, George

[Lost User]

My understanding is that static vars are initialised before main() is called. You could check this by creating a class with a constructor, init a static variable of this type, put a breakpoint in the constructor and see what happens

[George_George]

Thanks Josh, Do you mean static variable inside a function? If yes, how do you think such *local* static variable will be stored, since normal local variable (value) will vanish after function returns. But for static *local* variable, the value will not vanish -- and will be recorded next time when we entered the same function. Any ideas or comments? regards, George

[Lost User]

I dont know to be honest but I would imagine that all static variables are pushed onto the stack before main() is called and therefore "local" statics dont really go out of scope when a function ends. I suspect the actual details may vary between compilers.

[George_George]

Thanks Josh, Good answer! I have a further question about programming best practice. Do you think it is safe to let the address of the *local* static variable as the return value of a function? Then other part of code (out of this function) will access or even modify the variable by the returned address of the *local* static variable? Any disadvantages of this approach? Example, int* func() { static int i; // other code return &i; } regards, George

[ThatsAlok]

when you mark some variable static, compiler wil decide how to treat that variable.. so there no scope of local and global variable concept here!

"Opinions are neither right nor wrong. I cannot change your opinion. I can, however, change what influences your opinion." - David Crow
Never mind - my own stupidity is the source of every "problem" - Mixture

cheers, Alok Gupta VC Forum Q&A :- I IV Support CRY- Child Relief and You

[Lost User]

George_George wrote:

Good answer! I have a further question about programming best practice. Do you think it is safe to let the address of the *local* static variable as the return value of a function? Then other part of code (out of this function) will access or even modify the variable by the returned address of the *local* static variable? Any disadvantages of this approach?

I'd say it smells like bad design, the only reason to return a pointer rather than a copy of the int is to allow some other code to modify it. I'd rather provide a method to allow other code to modify the static.

[ThatsAlok]

Josh Gray wrote:

I'd say it smells like bad design, the only reason to return a pointer rather than a copy of the int is to allow some other code to modify it. I'd rather provide a method to allow other code to modify the static.

sorry to interrupt you.. it's somewhat Singleton pattern...! so i don't think it bad design.. though it break OOPS basic concept of encapsulation and abstraction!

"Opinions are neither right nor wrong. I cannot change your opinion. I can, however, change what influences your opinion." - David Crow
Never mind - my own stupidity is the source of every "problem" - Mixture

cheers, Alok Gupta VC Forum Q&A :- I/IV Support CRY- Child Relief and You

[Lost User]

ThatsAlok wrote:

i don't think it bad design.. though it break OOPS basic concept of encapsulation and abstraction!

Which to me makes it bad design. You can still have the static and therefore the singleton pattern but my comments was more about how you expose the interface to it. Returning the address of what is basically a private variable is bad.

[George_George]

Thanks Josh,

Josh Gray wrote:

I'd rather provide a method to allow other code to modify the static.

I agree with most points of you. But I do not quite understand your above points. Could you show me a sample please about how to modify the static variable please? I am wondering how to modify the value of the static variable from other function (other than from the function in which it is defined)? regards, George

[George_George]

Thanks Josh, I can generally understand and agree with your points. But I am confused about some details. Could you show us your points by a couple of lines of code please? regards, George

[George_George]

Thanks Alok! How do you think returning static variable is similar to Singleton pattern? Any more details about how similar points do they have? regards, George

[George_George]

Thanks Alok! If you think static variable is different from local or global variables, how do you think static variable is stored and managed so that the value is reserved each time we enters the function in which the static variable is defined? regards, George

[Lost User]

George_George wrote:

I am wondering how to modify the value of the static variable from other function (other than from the function in which it is defined)?

Sorry, my mistake as you cant do that. You can however define a static in a class and access it from any of the methods in that class. Even const methods!

[George_George]

Hi Josh, I think you mean static member of a class. But I mean a static variable defined inside a function. regards, George

[Lost User]

George_George wrote:

I think you mean static member of a class. But I mean a static variable defined inside a function.

Yes you are right which makes me wonder why you have global methods? I suspect there is probably a better to solution to what you are trying to do but its hard to suggest anything without knowing more about what you are doing and in what context

[ThatsAlok]

George_George wrote:

How do you think returning static variable is similar to Singleton pattern

just on basic.. concept of Singleton pattern says that.. there should only copy exist for any variable.. look more in detail here:- http://www.codeproject.com/cpp/singletonrvs.asp[^]

"Opinions are neither right nor wrong. I cannot change your opinion. I can, however, change what influences your opinion." - David Crow
Never mind - my own stupidity is the source of every "problem" - Mixture

cheers, Alok Gupta VC Forum Q&A :- I/IV Support CRY- Child Relief and You

[George_George]

Thanks Josh, You are right. I am writing a part of the application in C (not C++). I am wondering and willing to listen to your comments and ideas of any disadvantages if I return the address of static variable defined in a function, then let other part of code to access the variable by the returned address. regards, George

[Lost User]

George_George wrote:

You are right. I am writing a part of the application in C (not C++). I am wondering and willing to listen to your comments and ideas of any disadvantages if I return the address of static variable defined in a function, then let other part of code to access the variable by the returned address.

Well you could make the static global rather than defining it within a function then have two function to get and set its value but thats just an attempt to make a procedural language more OO.

[George_George]

Thanks Alok, The similarity you mean is only one copy of data? regards, George