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 '.'?