Do C String Literals Have Static Memory Allocation and Lifetime?

Understanding String Literals in C : Allocation and Lifetime

A string literal in C is a sequence of characters enclosed in double quotes (""). This begs the question: is a string literal allocated in static memory and persists throughout the program's execution?

Allocation and Storage Duration

The answer is yes. String literals are created in static memory, meaning they are allocated during program initialization and remain accessible until the program terminates. This characteristic stems from the storage duration of string literals.

Standard Explanation

According to the C Standard (2.13.4/1), an ordinary string literal has a type of "array of n const char" and static storage duration. Static storage duration, as defined in 3.7.1/1 of the Standard, dictates that the storage for such objects endures for the entire program's lifetime.

Therefore, string literals benefit from having static storage duration, which ensures their availability throughout the program. They remain intact even during the destruction of static objects or other memory management operations.

The above is the detailed content of Do C String Literals Have Static Memory Allocation and Lifetime?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!