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Storage Classes in C Programming

Storage classes in C determine where variables are stored in memory and their scope and lifetime. The main storage classes are auto for local variables, extern for global variables, register to store variables in CPU registers, and static for variables that retain their value between function calls. Each storage class specifies different variable properties like scope, lifetime, initialization values, and accessibility from other parts of a program.

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169 views

Storage Classes in C Programming

Storage classes in C determine where variables are stored in memory and their scope and lifetime. The main storage classes are auto for local variables, extern for global variables, register to store variables in CPU registers, and static for variables that retain their value between function calls. Each storage class specifies different variable properties like scope, lifetime, initialization values, and accessibility from other parts of a program.

Uploaded by

Amel KB
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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What is a Storage Class?

A storage class represents the visibility and a location of a variable. It tells from what part of
code we can access a variable. A storage class is used to describe the following things:

 The variable scope.


 The location where the variable will be stored.
 The initialized value of a variable.
 A lifetime of a variable.
 Who can access a variable?

Thus a storage class is used to represent the information about a variable.

NOTE: A variable is not only associated with a data type, its value but also a storage class.

There are total four types of standard storage classes. The table below represents the
storage classes in ‘C’.

Storage class Purpose

auto It is a default storage class.

extern It is a global variable.

static It is a local variable which is capable of


returning a value even when control is
transferred to the function call.

register It is a variable which is stored inside a


Register.

Auto storage class


The variables defined using auto storage class are called as local variables. Auto stands for
automatic storage class. A variable is in auto storage class by default if it is not explicitly
specified.

The scope of an auto variable is limited with the particular block only. Once the control goes
out of the block, the access is destroyed. This means only the block in which the auto
variable is declared can access it.
A keyword auto is used to define an auto storage class. By default, an auto variable contains
a garbage value.

<pre>Example, auto int age;

</pre>

The program below defines a function with has two local variables
<pre>
int add(void) {
int a=13;
auto int b=48;
return a+b;}
</pre>

We take another program which shows the scope level “visibility level” for auto variables in
each block code which are independently to each other:

<pre>
#include <stdio.h>
int main( )
{
auto int j = 1;
{
auto int j= 2;
{
auto int j = 3;
printf ( " %d ", j);
}
printf ( "\t %d ",j);
}
printf( "%d\n", j);}
</pre>
OUTPUT: <pre> 3 2 1 </pre>
Extern storage class
Extern stands for external storage class. It used to access any external variable specified
somewhere in the program code. We use the extern storage class when we have global
functions or variables which shared between two or more files.

extern is used to declaring a global variable or function in another file to provide the
reference of variable or function which have been already defined in the original file.

The variables defined using an extern keyword are called as global variables. These variables
are accessible throughout the program. Notice that the extern variable cannot be initialized
it has already been defined in the original file

<pre>Example, extern void display();</pre>

First File: main.c


<pre>
#include <stdio.h>
extern i;
main() {
printf("value of the external integer is = %d\n", i);
return 0;}
</pre>

Second File: original.c


<pre>
#include <stdio.h>
i=48;
</pre>

Result:

<pre> value of the external integer is = 48</pre>

In order to compile and run the previous code, we have to follow the next steps :

- In the Code::blocks IDE, create a C project and save it your preferred path
- Put the main code as shown in the previous program in the main.c file and save it

- Create a new C file [File -> new -> Empty File ] , save (as original.c ) and add it to the
current project by clicking “OK” in the dialogue box .

- Put and save the C code of the original.c file shown in the previous example without the
main() function.

- Build and run your project.The result is shown in the next figure

Static storage class

The static variables are used within function/ file as local static variables. They can also be
used as a global variable

- Static local variable is a local variable that retains and stores its value between
function calls or block and remains visible only to the function or block in which it is
defined.
- Static global variables are global variables visible only to the file in which it is
declared.
<pre>Example: static int count = 10;</pre>

Keep in mind that static variable has a default initial value zero and is initialized only once in
its lifetime.

<pre>
#include <stdio.h> /* function declaration */
void next(void);
static int counter = 7; /* global variable */
main() {
while(counter<10) {
next();
counter++; }
return 0;}
void next( void ) { /* function definition */
static int iteration = 13; /* local static variable */
iteration ++;
printf("iteration=%d and counter= %d\n", iteration, counter);}
</pre>

Result:

<pre>
iteration=14 and counter= 7
iteration=15 and counter= 8
iteration=16 and counter= 9
</pre>

Global variables are accessible throughout the file whereas static variables are accessible
only to the particular part of a code.

The lifespan of a static variable is in the entire program code. A variable which is declared or
initialized using static keyword always contains zero as a default value.

Register storage class

You can use the register storage class when you want to store local variables within
functions or blocks in CPU registers instead of RAM to have quick access to these variables.
For example, "counters" are a good candidate to be stored in the register.

<pre>Example: register int age;


</pre>

The keyword register is used to declare a register storage class. The variables declared using
register storage class has lifespan throughout the program.

It is similar to the auto storage class. The variable is limited to the particular block. The only
difference is that the variables declared using register storage class are stored inside CPU
registers instead of a memory. Register has faster access than that of the main memory.

The variables declared using register storage class has no default value. These variables are
often declared at the beginning of a program.

<pre>

#include <stdio.h> /* function declaration */


main() {
{register int weight;
int *ptr=&weight ;/*it produces an error when the compilation occurs ,we cannot
get a memory location when dealing with CPU register*/}
}</pre>

OUTPUT:

<pre>
error: address of register variable 'weight' requested
</pre>
The next table summarizes the principal features of each storage class which are commonly used in
C programming

Storage Declaration Storage Default Initial Scope Lifetime


Class Value
auto Inside a Memory Unpredictable Within the Within the
function/block function/block function/block
register Inside a CPU Garbage Within the Within the
function/block Registers function/block function/block
extern Outside all Memory Zero Entire the file program
functions and other files runtime
where the
variable is
declared as
extern
Static Inside a Memory Zero Within the program
(local) function/block function/block runtime
Static Outside all Memory Zero Global program
(global) functions runtime

Summary

In this tutorial we have discussed storage classes in C, to sum up:

 A storage class is used to represent additional information about a variable.


 Storage class represents the scope and lifespan of a variable.
 It also tells who can access a variable and from where?
 Auto, extern, register, static are the four storage classes in ‘C’.
 auto is used for a local variable defined within a block or function
 register is used to store the variable in CPU registers rather memory location for
quick access.
 Static is used for both global and local variables. Each one has its use case within
a C program.
 Extern is used for data sharing between C project files.

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