modf() question

[Christopher Benson-Manica]

Given that modf is prototyped as

double modf( double x, double *iptr );

is the behavior of the function well-defined if the address of x is
passed as the value of iptr?

 

[Kevin Bracey]

In message <[email protected]>

Given that modf is prototyped as

double modf( double x, double *iptr );

is the behavior of the function well-defined if the address of x is
passed as the value of iptr?

Absolutely. x is passed by value, so all that can happen is that the caller
passes a pointer to the argument it's passing. That won't point at the
copy of the parameter that the modf function sees, so there's no possible
aliasing problem.

 

[Guillaume]

Given that modf is prototyped as

double modf( double x, double *iptr );

is the behavior of the function well-defined if the address of x is
passed as the value of iptr?

Technically, the question is fundamentally flawed because here, x is
a function argument and its address cannot be passed as another argument
of the same call. So this question is plain rubbish.

Now if that was meant to say "if the address of the variable passed
in the function call as the first argument", that's another story.
But anything could be passed as the first argument of this function,
including literals and expressions, so the parameter doesn't necessarily
even have an address (as defined by the operator '&').

Thus, this question doesn't make any sense per se. Ask your teacher to
write a better question, then work on it.

 

[Christopher Benson-Manica]

Absolutely. x is passed by value, so all that can happen is that the caller
passes a pointer to the argument it's passing. That won't point at the
copy of the parameter that the modf function sees, so there's no possible
aliasing problem.

I should have been able to replicate that thought process - time for
more coffee, I suppose. Thanks.