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Hi,
What is the difference between static and global static variable?
I am not able to find any differences. Well they both seem the same to me.
Do they differ in storage or the place where they are stored?
Please explain me with an example.:(Code:#include <stdio.h>
unsigned int a ;
static unsigned int b ;
int main(void )
{
printf("\nGlobal : %u and %u\n",a,&a) ;
printf("\nStatic Global : %u and %u\n",b,&b) ;
return 0 ;
}
There is no difference. A variable declared at file scope (i.e. outside a function) has the static storage attribute. ("global" is a misnomer, but I won't delve into that).
Incidentally, don't use %u to print pointers, since the result is undefined behaviour. Use %p.
I don't agree, mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by grumpy
Suppose you want use those variables in other source file:
Note:Code:#include <stdio.h>
extern unsigned int a; // valid
extern unsigned int b; // invalid because of static keyword
void my_variables(void)
{
printf("\nGlobal : %u and %p\n", a, &a); // valid
printf("\nStatic Global : %u and %p\n", b, &b); // invalid
}
Use %p for pointer types.
Well, if you want the difference to matter, I would expect that you need more than one source file. For example:
Code:/* main.c */
#include <stdio.h>
#include "test_header.h"
int main(void)
{
printf("Global: %u at %p\n", a, (void*)&a);
printf("Static Global: %u at %p\n", b, (void*)&b);
modify_a(123);
modify_b(456);
printf("Global: %u at %p\n", a, (void*)&a);
printf("Static Global: %u at %p\n", b, (void*)&b);
return 0;
}
Code:#ifndef TEST_HEADER_H_
#define TEST_HEADER_H_
/* test_header.h */
extern unsigned int a;
static unsigned int b;
void modify_a(unsigned int new_a);
void modify_b(unsigned int new_b);
#endif
Code:/* test_source.c */
#include "test_header.h"
unsigned int a;
void modify_a(unsigned int new_a)
{
a = new_a;
}
void modify_b(unsigned int new_b)
{
b = new_b;
}
K grumpy. I will go with using %p for pointers. But. are there not any differences? In an interview, i had been questioned that " what is the difference between global and static global" .Quote:
Originally Posted by grumpy
What is the main difference?
Can u please tell / describe me with any other program.
That's because you don't understand the meaning of extern and static. The extern and static keywords have conflicting effects (at least on variables, at file scope).Quote:
Originally Posted by DRK
In C, static is a storage attribute. It also, in effect, makes the variable local to the current compilation unit. That is what happens, by default, for a variable at file scope. extern informs the compiler that the variable is defined elsewhere (e.g. in another source file). Since, by implication, an extern variable must be visible to other compilation units, extern and static are mutually exclusive (hence a compiler will complain bitterly about if you apply static and extern to the same variable).
One answer to that kind of question is "there is no difference". Some interviewers do ask questions with no answer, just to see how candidates tackle it. That does give useful information about the candidates.Quote:
Originally Posted by Raj 89
Here is an example with two compilation units, driver.c and helper.c:Quote:
Originally Posted by Raj 89
driver.c:
helper.c:Code:#include <stdio.h>
int globalstatus = 123;
static int status = 1000;
static void pstatus(void) {
static line = 1;
printf("driver.c: %d: status is %d, globalstatus is %d.\n",
line++, status, globalstatus);
}
void helper_ustatus(int);
void helper_pstatus(void);
int main()
{
// Print initial status
pstatus();
helper_pstatus();
// Update (static) status and print it again
helper_ustatus(2048);
pstatus();
helper_pstatus();
// Update globalstatus and print it again
globalstatus=456;
pstatus();
helper_pstatus();
return 0;
}
The variable globalstatus is "global". It is defined in driver.c, therefore helper.c must declare it explicitly as "extern int globalstatus" to make use of it.Code:#include <stdio.h>
extern int globalstatus;
static int status = 2000;
static void pstatus(void) {
static line = 1;
printf("helper.c: %d: status is %d, globalstatus is %d.\n",
line++, status, globalstatus);
}
void helper_ustatus(int x)
{
status=x;
}
void helper_pstatus(void)
{
pstatus();
}
The variable status is "global static" if we can informally call it that. As was already mentioned, the better way to say it is that it has static storage class and file scope. Notice that driver.c and helper.c each have their own status.
The variable line in pstatus() is "function static" if we can informally call it that. It is probably better to say that it has static storage class and function scope.
The function pstatus is static which allows each compilation unit to have its own private version of this function with the same name. All other functions are not static and thus must have unique names.
Example compiler command: gcc -o program driver.c helper.c
In this case there is a correct answer for the provided context of a single source file, i.e., it is not really a trick question with "no answer" since "there is no difference" is a fine answer. Of course, expanding the context to talk about multiple source files and mentioning extern would be a bonus.Quote:
Originally Posted by grumpy