Defect Report #263

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Submitter: UK C Panel
Submission Date: 2001-09-07
Source: Clive D.W. Feather <clive@demon.net>
Version: 1.1
Date: 2002-03-07
Subject: all-zero bits representations

Problem

Consider the code:

   int v [10];
    memset (v, 0, sizeof v);

Most programmers would expect this code to set all the elements of v to zero. However, the code is actually undefined: it is possible for int to have a representation in which all-bits-zero is a trap representation (for example, if there is an odd-parity bit in the value).

Consider also:

   int *p;
    p = calloc (n_members, sizeof (int));

This problem applies to all integer types except for unsigned char. I believe that the idiom is well-enough known that it should be made a part of the Standard.

Suggested Technical Corrigendum

Append to 6.2.6.2#5:

For any integer type, the object representation where all the bits are zero shall be a representation of the value zero in that type.

Technical Corrigendum

Append to 6.2.6.2#5:

For any integer type, the object representation where all the bits are zero shall be a representation of the value zero in that type.


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