any way to determine size of array thats a function parameter?

Hi, I have a function that accepts as its argument a pointer to a character array, and writes some values to it.

i'd like to check the size of it (the number of elements) to make sure I don't overwrite past its boundaries

Something like: sizeof(array)/sizeof(char) only works if the code is executed in main and the array is declared inside of main

sizeof(array)/sizeof(char) does not work inside a function, because the compiler treats the passed in array as a pointer, and returns the size of the pointer, not the array.

Any ideas?

Note: I'm not using strlen because I want to check the actual size of the array, not the length of the string.

Pass the size as another parameter, [edit]and use sizeof(array)/sizeof(*array) for that parameter when array is in scope[/edit].

you could also use a struct or even pack the size into the array itself either behind or ahead of the pointer.

Well, in newer versions of C you can do this:

Code:

---

void myFunction( char str[n] )
{
  printf("The array is %d bytes long.",n);
}

---

I haven't tested this (I don't program C), but from what I've heard, this is how it works.

Except...what is n?

It will contain the size of the array. Search for VLAs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sang-drax

Well, in newer versions of C you can do this:

Code:

---

void myFunction( char str[n] )
{
  printf("The array is %d bytes long.",n);
}

---

I haven't tested this (I don't program C), but from what I've heard, this is how it works.

---

Hmmm. I believe you have to pass the parameter n, as in:

Code:

---

void myFunction( int n, char str[n] )

---

Sang-Drax -

VLA's are variable length arrays, part of C99 - they apply ONLY to arrays declared inside a function, and have scope only in that function.

The scope of the string array passed in is in 'outside' the function.

And, if you pass in the correct length of the array as a parameter, then you no longer have the problem of worrying about finding it.

OK, apparently I was misinformed.
*runs back to the C++ board* :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave_Sinkula

Pass the size as another parameter, [edit]and use sizeof(array)/sizeof(*array) for that parameter when array is in scope[/edit].

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Please if you read this don't forget the If it is in scope

^ Right, in other words saying:

Code:

---

int f(double *array) {
  size_t size = sizeof(array)/sizeof(*array);
  return (signed)size;
}

---

Is wrong as you are saying the size of a pointer divided by the size of a double. Which on my machine would be .5, which I guarantee you is not what you were looking for ;)

>Which on my machine would be .5
You mean 0, right? ;)

>You mean 0, right?
Nope I meant .5, but Prelude is correct in saying that division will evaluate the size of the array to zero. If I said 0 that means my brain also trucates decimals when doing integer math ;)

Actually...Prelude may have stumbled onto something here. From now on I will tell the IRS "Sorry my brain just truncated that decimal."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by master5001

>You mean 0, right?
Nope I meant .5, but Prelude is correct in saying that sizeof() will evaluate the size of the array to zero. If I said 0 that means my brain also trucates decimals when doing integer math ;)

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No. You mean 0. Integeral division will only ever give you an integer as a result. As such, it's impossible for that to give you .5.

Code:

---

int f(double *array) {
  size_t size = sizeof(array)/sizeof(*array);
  return (signed)size;
}

int main( void )
{
    double array[] = { 0.0, 1.1, 2.2 };
    printf("returned value is %d\n", f( array ) );
    return 0;
}

---

How could you possibly get .5 on this? You can't. It's an impossiblility. There is no way your machine would give you .5 as a return value there. It doesn't have anything to do with the sizeof operator. It has to do with integer division.

Quzah.