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Storage Classes in C++

Storage Classes in C++

Each variable in C++ has a data type. When defining a variable, the compiler assigns a storage class by default. We use storage classes in C++ to express the variables' and methods' characteristics. It also specifies the scope, lifetime, visibility of variables, and functions. <!--more-->

Introduction

These characteristics enable us to track the presence of a variable over the course of a program's execution. This article will look at various storage classes and code examples that show how they work.

Prerequisites

To follow through this article, the reader should have:

What is lifetime and visibility?

The length of time a variable is active is referred to as its lifetime. Visibility refers to which part of code a variable can access depending on the access level set.

Types of Storage class

There are usually five types of storage classes in C++ programming language:

  1. Automatic
  2. Register
  3. Static
  4. External
  5. Mutable

The following syntax is used to define the storage class for a variable:

storage_class var_data_type var_name;

We can break down the code as shown below:

  • storage_class – It is used to specify the storage class.
  • var_data_type – It is used to specify the variable's data type.
  • var_name – It is used to specify the variable name.

Let's take a look at the five storage classes with some examples:

1. Automatic

It is the default storage class for all local variables. These local variables are declared inside a function or block. When writing programs, the auto keyword is hardly used. Auto variables can only be accessed within the function or block where they were declared.

They can not be accessed outside of that function or block. We can also access them within nested blocks, as well as the parent block where the declaration of the auto variable is. A pointer variable is used to access auto variables outside their scope.

We are required to point to the same region in memory where the variables are stored. Its lifespan is the same as the function's lifetime. When a function's execution is complete, the variable is destroyed. By default, they are given a garbage value whenever declared.

Syntax:

datatype var_name1 [= value]; // by default if you don’t use auto keyword

or

auto datatype var_name1 [= value];

Example to show Auto storage class:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void autoStorageClass()
{

  cout << "Demonstration of auto storage class\n";

  // Declare an auto variable
  // We do not need data-type declaratiion
  auto a = 50;
  auto b = 5.2;
  auto c = "AutoStorageClass";
  auto d = 'A';

  // Displaying the auto variables
  cout << a << " \n";
  cout << b << " \n";
  cout << c << " \n";
  cout << d << " \n";
}

int main()
{

  // Demonstrating auto Storage Class
  autoStorageClass();

  return 0;
}

Go ahead and run the code here.

Output:

Demonstration of auto storage class
50
5.2
A

2. Register

We use the register storage class to declare register variables. A register variable functions similarly to an auto variable. The only exception is that the compiler tries to store these variables in the microprocessor's register if one is available.

If no free registers are available, they are stored solely in memory. This makes operations on register variables much faster than that of other variables stored in memory during runtime.

A few variables that need to be accessed regularly in a program are usually declared within the register storage class. This helps increase the program's execution speed. A register variable's address cannot be found via pointers. The variable's largest size is equal to the register's largest size. We cannot use the ‘&’ operator because there is no memory location for it.

Syntax:

register datatype var_name1 [= value];

Example showing usage of Register storage class:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void registerStorageClass()
{

	cout << "Demonstration of register storage class\n";

	// declaration of a register variable
	register char c = 'G';

	//Lets dispkay the register variable
	cout << "Value of 'c' which is"
		<< " declared as register: " << c;
}
int main()
{

	// Demonstrating the Storage Class
	registerStorageClass();
	return 0;
}

Go ahead and run the code here.

Output:

Demonstration of register storage class
Value of c which is declared as register: G

3. Static

Static variables are declared using this storage class. Static variables keep their value even when they are outside their scope. They are initialized once and exist till the program is terminated. The memory for the static variable is only allocated once, and no more memory is allocated because it is not re-declared.

We can access global static variables anywhere in the code. The compiler assigns the value 0 to them by default. In C++, when we use static on a class data member, only one copy of that member is shared by all objects in that class.

Syntax:

static datatype var_name1 [= value];

Example showing Static storage class:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Function that contains static variables
// memory is retained during execution
int staticFun()
{
	cout << "Static variables: ";
	static int count = 0;
	count++;
	return count;
}

// Function that contains non-static variables
// Destroying memory
int nonStaticFun()
{
	cout << "Non-Static variables: ";

	int count = 0;
	count++;
	return count;
}

int main()
{

	// Printing the static variables parts
	cout << staticFun() << "\n";
	cout << staticFun() << "\n";
	;

	// Printing the non-static variables parts

	cout << nonStaticFun() << "\n";
	;
	cout << nonStaticFun() << "\n";
	;
	return 0;
}

Go ahead and run the code here.

Output:

static variables: 1
static variables: 2
Non-Static variables: 1
Non-Static variables: 1

4. External

We need this storage class when we want the variables to be shared across several files. External variables have a global scope and can be seen outside of the file where they were declared. The whole program can see it, and it is utilized when the same variable or function is shared by two or more files.

The lifetime of external variables is the same as the lifetime of the program in which they were declared. A regular global variable may also be rendered external by using the ‘extern' keyword before its declaration or description in any function or block.

The variable cannot be initialized when you use 'extern,' because all it does is point the variable name to a previously determined storage address.

Syntax:

extern datatype var_name1;

Example showing External storage class:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Declaring the variable which is to
// be made extern an initial value can
// also be initialized to m
int m;
void externStorageClass()
{

	cout << "Demonstrating extern class\n";

	// We tell compiler that variable
	// m is an extern variable. It's been defined somewhere else (above the main function)
	extern int m;

	// printing the extern variables
	cout << "Value of 'm'which is "
		<< "declared as extern: " << m << "\n";

	// value of 'm' modified
	m = 5;

	// printing the modified values of
	// extern variables
	cout
		<< "Modified value of 'm'"
		<< " declared as extern: \n"
		<< m;
}

int main()
{

	// Demonstration of extern Storage Class
	externStorageClass();

	return 0;
}

Go ahead and run the code here.

Output:

Demonstration of extern class
Value of ‘m’ which is declared as extern: 0
Modified value of ‘m’ declared as extern: 5

5. Mutable

Only class objects have the mutable specifier. This enables a member of an object to override a const member function. That is, a const member function can change a mutable member.

Even if you don't want the function to update other members of the class/struct, you might need to change one or more data members. This is done using the const function. The mutable keyword makes this task simple to complete.

Syntax:

mutable datatype var_name1 [= value];

Example to show Mutable storage class:

#include <iostream>
using std::cout;

class Test {
public:
  int m;

  // Defining mutable variable n
  // which can be modified
  mutable int n;

  Test()
  {
    m = 5;
    n = 20;
  }
};

int main()
{
  // Our t1 is set to constant
  const Test t1;

  // We are trying to change the value
  t1.n = 50;
  cout << t1.n;

  // Not commenting below the lines
  // will throw errors
  // t1.m = 8;
  // cout << t1.m;
  return 0;
}

Go ahead and run the code here.

Output:

50

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the different methods that we can use as storage class's in C++ programs as well as what they are and their roles.

With that, you should be able to create programs that use storage classes to express the attributes of variables and methods. I hope you found this article intuitive and useful in your future programs.

Happy coding!

Peer Review Contributions by: Peter Kayere

Published on: Jul 13, 2021
Updated on: Jul 12, 2024
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