Thread: What are memory address of global variables

How to know the address of global variables

Code:

#include<stdio.h> 
    int a = 1;
   
    int b = 2;
 
int main()
{
    int a = 10;
   
    int b = 20;
    
    printf("a = %d \n", a);
    printf("b = %d \n", b);


       printf("Location of a = %p \n", &a);
    printf("Location of b = %p \n", &b);
    
    return 0;
}

a = 10
b = 20
Location of a = 0061FF2C
Location of b = 0061FF28
Program print the address of local variables

Program show the memory location of local as well as global variable

Code:

#include<stdio.h>
 
    int x = 1;
   
    int y = 2;
 
int main()
{
    int a = 10;
   
    int b = 20;
    
    printf("x = %d \n", x);
    printf("y = %d \n", y);
    
    printf("a = %d \n", a);
    printf("b = %d \n", b);


       printf("a = %p \n", &a);
    printf("b = %p \n", &b);
    
    printf("x = %p \n", &x);
    printf("p = %p \n", &y);
    return 0;
}

x = 1
y = 2
a = 10
b = 20
a = 0061FF2C
b = 0061FF28
x = 00404004
y = 00404008

What happen if we declare global and local variable with same name and where does global variable store and how can we get their address

Code:

#include<stdio.h>
 
    int a = 1;
   
    int b = 2;
 
int main()
{
    int a = 10;
   
    int b = 20;
    
    printf("x = %d \n", x);
    printf("y = %d \n", y);
    
    printf("a = %d \n", a);
    printf("b = %d \n", b);


       printf("a = %p \n", &a);
    printf("b = %p \n", &b);
    
    return 0;
}

> What happen if we declare global and local variable with same name and where does global variable store and how can we get their address

A Google search happens. And if not that, buying a Reference Book happens and going through it step by step happens. When you don't understand something other than the very basics of the programming foundation, asking a question happens.

Use the scope resolution operator (::) to access global scope variables with same name as local scopes.

Originally Posted by Zeus_

>
A Google search happens. And if not that, buying a Reference Book happens and going through it step by step happens. When you don't understand something other than the very basics of the programming foundation, asking a question happens.

Use the scope resolution operator (: to access global scope variables with same name as local scopes.

Thanks for your reply and my apologizes for not understanding response on the question. That question came in mind so I asked on the forum. I did google before posting question I wanted to know what happens when we declare global and local variable with same name.

Originally Posted by Zeus_

Use the scope resolution operator ( :: ) to access global scope variables with same name as local scopes.

The scope resolution operator is only for C++ not C. There may be compilers that allow this as an extension, but not gcc using -std=c18. I have not experimented with any other options.

@gajya

In C, a local variable of the same name as a Global variable, will hide the Global.

Simple solutions:

1) Don't use global variables if at all possible! Define them in main() (Or some other called function), then pass them as a value or as a pointer to other functions.

2) Don't define a Global variable and a Local variable with the same name!!!

If you want to display the address of a variable, you should cast them to a (void *) in printf():

Code:

printf("a = %p \n", (void *) &a);

Which brings up another problem:

Turn ON your warnings and turn UP your warnings to the highest level, and please don't ignore the warnings displayed!

The code you posted will not compile as presented, or at least with warnings!!

I think you should study a good book an the C Programming Language. The book would explain this topic and many others, you need to know to program successfully in C.

Originally Posted by rstanley

@gajya

In C, a local variable of the same name as a Global variable, will hide the Global.

I can see that with my example

Code:

#include<stdio.h>  
    int a = 1;
    
    int b = 2;
  
int main()
{
    int a = 10;
    
    int b = 20;
    
    printf("a = %d \n", a);
    printf("b = %d \n", b);
 
 
       printf("a = %p \n", &a);
    printf("b = %p \n", &b);
     
    return 0;
}

a = 10
b = 20
a = 0061FF2C
b = 0061FF28

Originally Posted by rstanley

Simple solutions:

1) Don't use global variables if at all possible! Define them in main() (Or some other called function), then pass them as a value or as a pointer to other functions.

2) Don't define a Global variable and a Local variable with the same name!!!

I appreciated the advice but can you explain reason why not with same name

Originally Posted by rstanley

I think you should study a good book an the C Programming Language. The book would explain this topic and many others, you need to know to program successfully in C.

When I was reading the book this thought came in mind

They are two different variables, the local in the stack segment, and the global in the global data segment! The local will HIDE the global of the same name, and you, or someone else maintaining your program later, might get confused.

Globals are usually bad programming practice as any function in the program could alter the value, and make it hard to trace where the global was changed, if an error occurs!