Scribd
Upload
562 views

Storage Classes in C

Storage classes in C define the scope and lifetime of variables and functions. The main storage classes are auto, register, static, and extern. Auto is the default for local variables and defines them within functions. Register stores variables in registers instead of RAM for quick access but does not guarantee this. Static defines variables that retain their value between function calls. Extern gives external linkage to share variables between files without redefining them.

Uploaded by

Balakirupa Sivaraman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
562 views

Storage Classes in C

Storage classes in C define the scope and lifetime of variables and functions. The main storage classes are auto, register, static, and extern. Auto is the default for local variables and defines them within functions. Register stores variables in registers instead of RAM for quick access but does not guarantee this. Static defines variables that retain their value between function calls. Extern gives external linkage to share variables between files without redefining them.

Uploaded by

Balakirupa Sivaraman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Storage Classes in C

A storage class defines the scope (visibility) and life-time of variables


and/or functions within a C Program. These specifiers precede the type
that they modify. There are the following storage classes, which can be
used 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 mount;
auto int month;
}
The example above defines two variables with 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).
1

{
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 class data member, it
causes only one copy of that member to be shared by all objects of its
class.
#include <stdio.h>
/* function declaration */
void func(void);

static int count = 5; /* global variable */


main()
{
while(count--)
{
func();
}
return 0;
}
/* function definition */
void func( void )
{
static int i = 5; /* local static variable */
i++;
printf("i is %d and count is %d\n", i, count);
}
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the
following result:
i is 6 and count is 4
i is 7 and count is 3
3

i is 8 and count is 2
i is 9 and count is 1
i is 10 and count is 0
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 as all it does is point 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 be used in other files also, then extern will be used
in another file to give 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.
First File: main.c
#include <stdio.h>
int count ;
extern void write_extern();
main()
{
count = 5;
4

write_extern();
}
Second File: support.c
#include <stdio.h>
extern int count;
void write_extern(void)
{
printf("count is %d\n", count);
}
Here, extern keyword is being used to declare count in the second file
where as it has its definition in the first file, main.c. Now, compile these
two files as follows:
$gcc main.c support.c
This will produce a.out executable program, when this program is
executed, it produces the following result:
5

You might also like