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Storage Class & Memory Layout

The document discusses the different components of a C program including functions, variables, and storage classes. It explains how functions and variables make up a C program and covers the various storage classes like auto, register, static, extern, and const that define the scope and lifetime of variables and functions.

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Priya Priya
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42 views3 pages

Storage Class & Memory Layout

The document discusses the different components of a C program including functions, variables, and storage classes. It explains how functions and variables make up a C program and covers the various storage classes like auto, register, static, extern, and const that define the scope and lifetime of variables and functions.

Uploaded by

Priya Priya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Any Software Program = Instructions + data

C Program = Statements + Variables

In a C program, statements are placed inside a function

hence, we conclude, C program = Functions + Variables

Functions:
 Global
 Static

Variables:
 Constant
 Global
o extern
o static
 Local
o auto
o register
o static

Storage Class
A storage class defines the scope (visibility) and life-time of variables and/or functions within a C
Program.

To specify the storage class, We use the below listed keywords:


 auto
o Refers to Local variables.
o This is default storage class of a local variable
o Scope: Within the function
o Life time: Alive only during function call. Otherwise it is dead.
o Gets re-initialized for every function call
o Default value: unknown (garbage)
o Memory Segment: Stack
 register
o Refers to local variable.
o With this keyword, we request complier to allocate CPU register(s) for the
specified variable(s) for quick read/ write.
o Compiler may or may not do this. It depends on overall memory organization and
OS architecture.
 static
o can be use used for:
 Functions
 To restrict the function to be used in the same .c file only.
 Global Variables
 To restrict the variables to be used in the same .c file only
 Scope: Within the same .c file
 Local Variables
 Scope: Within the Function
 Life: Alive throughout the program
 Default Value: 0
 Memory Segment: Initialized Data Segment
 Does not get re-initialized for each function call
 extern
o Can be used for
 Functions
 Declaring a function with extern makes it globally accessible in any
part of the program.
 Global Variables
 Declaring a global variable with extern makes it globally accessible in
any part of the program.
 Memory Segment of Global Variables: Read Write Data Segment
 const
o Generally used with global variables.
o A variable specified with const keyword is a Read Only.
o It must be initialized with a value and can’t be modified further.
o Memory Segment: Read Only Data Segment.
Memory Layout of C Program
Command Line Arguments Higher Address

Stack Segment
Stack Frame for every function Call
Function Arguments
Local variables (auto)
return value/ address
Stack grows toward lower address

Heap Segment
(Dynamically allocated memory blocks with
malloc()/ calloc())
heaps grows towards higher address
Read/ Write Data Segment
Uninitialized Data Segment (bss)
Initialized Data Segment

Read Only Data Segment

Code/ Text Segment


(Instructions part of the C program)
Lower Address

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