Submitter:CFP group
Submission Date: 2021-06-06
Document: WG14 N2755
Title: N2755: static initialization of DFP zeros
Reference Documents:WG14 N2596, SC22WG14.19047, CFP 1945, 1990

Summary: While the C standard says that the default initialized value for static objects is zero, there is no mention of which quantum exponent a decimal floating-point zero should be given.

These page numbers are for N2596.

Page 112, 6.7.9 Initialization, paragraph 10, has (in part):

If an object that has static or thread storage duration is not initialized explicitly, then: ...

if it has arithmetic type, it is initialized to (positive or unsigned) zero;

Proposal

Add to the end of that sentance about zero:

if it has arithmetic type, it is initialized to (positive or unsigned) zero, and if it has decimal floating-point type, the quantum exponent is implemenation defined [Footnote];

Footnote: All bits zero results in a decimal floating-point zero with the most negative quantum exponent.

Aside: Should the final ';' in the bullet list be a '.'?