RE: malloc(1/0) ??

From: David Schwartz (davids@webmaster.com)
Date: Tue Nov 07 2000 - 02:54:11 EST


> hi,
> why does this program works. when executed, it doesnt
> give a segmentation fault. when the program requests
> memory, is a standard chunk is allocated irrespective
> of the what the user specifies. please explain.
>
> main()
> {
> char *s;
> s = (char*)malloc(0);
> strcpy(s,"fffff");
> printf("%s\n",s);
> }
>
> NOTE:
> i know its a 'C' problem. but i wanted to know how
> this works

        The program does not work. A program works if it does what it's supposed to
do. If you want to argue that this program is supposed to print "ffffff"
then explain to me why the 'malloc' contains a zero in parenthesis.

        The program can't possibly work because it invokes undefined behavior. It
is impossible to determine what a program that invokes undefined behavior is
'supposed to do'.

        DS

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