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Module V

Programming in c

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Smitha Rajesh
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4 views

Module V

Programming in c

Uploaded by

Smitha Rajesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE V

Storage class and memory management in C: Storage Classes- automatic, external (global),
static & registers, typedef statements, Dynamic memory allocation, pre-processors
statements, command-line arguments
Storage class
A storage class defines the scope (visibility) and life-time of variables and/or functions within
a C Program. They precede the type that they modify. We have four different storage classes
in a C program −
 auto
 register
 static
 extern
The auto Storage Class
The auto storage class is the default storage class for all local variables.
{
int month;
auto int month;
}
The example above defines two variables with in the same storage class. 'auto' can only be
used within functions, i.e., local variables.
The register Storage Class
The register storage class is used to define local variables that should be stored in a register
instead of RAM. This means that the variable has a maximum size equal to the register size
(usually one word) and can't have the unary '&' operator applied to it (as it does not have a
memory location).
{
register int miles;
}
The register should only be used for variables that require quick access such as counters. It
should also be noted that defining 'register' does not mean that the variable will be stored in a
register. It means that it MIGHT be stored in a register depending on hardware and
implementation restrictions.
The static Storage Class
The static storage class instructs the compiler to keep a local variable in existence during the
life-time of the program instead of creating and destroying it each time it comes into and goes
out of scope. Therefore, making local variables static allows them to maintain their values
between function calls.

The static modifier may also be applied to global variables. When this is done, it causes that
variable's scope to be restricted to the file in which it is declared.
In C programming, when static is used on a global variable, it causes only one copy of that
member to be shared by all the objects of its class.

The extern Storage Class


The extern storage class is used to give a reference of a global variable that is visible to ALL
the program files. When you use 'extern', the variable cannot be initialized however, it points
the variable name at a storage location that has been previously defined.
When you have multiple files and you define a global variable or function, which will also be
used in other files, then extern will be used in another file to provide the reference of defined
variable or function. Just for understanding, extern is used to declare a global variable or
function in another file.
The extern modifier is most commonly used when there are two or more files sharing the
same global variables or functions as explained below.

Dynamic memory allocation in ‘C’:


Dynamic memory allocation means, a program can obtain its memory while it is running. It
allows us to allocate additional memory space or to release unwanted space at the time of
program execution (runtime). Pointers support the dynamic memory allocations in Q
language.
The C language provides 4 library functions known as “Memory management function‟
which can be used for allocating and releasing memory during execution.
Function Meaning
Malloc ( ) used to allocate blocks of memory in required size of bytes.

Free () Used to release previously allocated memory space.

calloc ( ) Used to allocate


memory space for an array of elements.
realloc () used to modify the size of the previously allocated memory
typedef
typedef is a keyword used in C language to assign alternative names to existing datatypes. Its
mostly used with user defined datatypes, when names of the datatypes become slightly
complicated to use in programs. Following is the general syntax for using typedef,
typedef <existing_name> <alias_name>

pre-processors statements
The C Preprocessor is not a part of the compiler, but is a separate step in the compilation
process. In simple terms, a C Preprocessor is just a text substitution tool and it instructs the
compiler to do required pre-processing before the actual compilation. We'll refer to the C
Preprocessor as CPP.
All preprocessor commands begin with a hash symbol (#). It must be the first nonblank
character, and for readability, a preprocessor directive should begin in the first column. The
following section lists down all the important preprocessor directives −

Sr.No. Directive & Description

1 #define
Substitutes a preprocessor macro.

2 #include
Inserts a particular header from another file.

3 #undef
Undefines a preprocessor macro.

4 #ifdef
Returns true if this macro is defined.

5 #ifndef
Returns true if this macro is not defined.

6 #if
Tests if a compile time condition is true.

7 #else The alternative for #if.


8 #elif
#else and #if in one statement.

9 #endif
Ends preprocessor conditional.

10 #error
Prints error message on stderr.

11 #pragma
Issues special commands to the compiler, using a standardized method.

Examples

#define MAX_ARRAY_LENGTH 20
This directive tells the CPP to replace instances of MAX_ARRAY_LENGTH with 20.
Use #define for constants to increase readability.
#include <stdio.h>
#include "myheader.h"
These directives tell the CPP to get stdio.h from System Libraries and add the text to the
current source file. The next line tells CPP to get myheader.h from the local directory and
add the content to the current source file.
Command Line arguments
It is possible to pass some values from the command line to your C programs when they are
executed. These values are called command line arguments and many times they are
important for your program especially when you want to control your program from outside
instead of hard coding those values inside the code.
The command line arguments are handled using main() function arguments where argc refers
to the number of arguments passed, and argv[] is a pointer array which points to each
argument passed to the program.
example
#include <stdio.h>
int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
{
if( argc == 2 ) {
printf("The argument supplied is %s\n", argv[1]);
}
else if( argc > 2 ) {
printf("Too many arguments supplied.\n");
}
else {
printf("One argument expected.\n");
}
}
.

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