Storage Classes in C: auto, extern, static, register class in C

What is Storage Class in C?

A storage class represents the visibility and a location of a variable. It tells from what part of code we can access a variable. A storage class in C is used to describe the following things:

• The variable scope.
• The location where the variable will be stored.
• The initialized value of a variable.
• A lifetime of a variable.
• Who can access a variable?

Thus a storage class is used to represent the information about a variable.

NOTE: A variable is not only associated with a data type, its value but also a storage class.

There are total four types of standard storage classes. The table below represents the storage classes in C.

In this C tutorial, you will learn different types of storage classes in C with examples-

• Auto Storage Class in C
• Extern Storage Class in C
• First File: main.c
• Second File: original.c
• Static Storage Class in C
• Register Storage Class in C

Example, auto int age;

The program below defines a function with has two local variables

int add(void) {
   int a=13;
   auto int b=48;
return a+b;}

We take another program which shows the scope level "visibility level" for auto variables in each block code which are independently to each other:

#include <stdio.h>
int main( )
{
  auto int j = 1;
  {
    auto int j= 2;
    {
      auto int j = 3;
      printf ( " %d ", j);
    }
    printf ( "\t %d ",j);
  }
  printf( "%d\n", j);}

OUTPUT:

 3 2 1 

Example, extern void display();

First File: main.c

#include <stdio.h>
extern i;
main() {
   printf("value of the external integer is = %d\n", i);
   return 0;}

Second File: original.c

#include <stdio.h>
i=48;

Result:

 value of the external integer is = 48

In order to compile and run the above code, follow the below steps

Step 1) Create new project,

1. Select Console Application
2. Click Go

Step 2) Select C and click Next

Step 3) Click Next

Step 4) Enter details and click Next

Step 5) Click Finish

Step 6) Put the main code as shown in the previous program in the main.c file and save it

Step 7) Create a new C file [File -> new -> Empty File , save (as original.c ) and add it to the current project by clicking "OK" in the dialogue box .

Step 8) Put and save the C code of the original.c file shown in the previous example without the main() function.

Step 9) Build and run your project. The result is shown in the next figure

Example: static int count = 10;

Keep in mind that static variable has a default initial value zero and is initialized only once in its lifetime.

#include <stdio.h> /* function declaration */
void next(void);
static int counter = 7; /* global variable */
main() {
 while(counter<10) {
      next();
      counter++;   }
return 0;}
void next( void ) {    /* function definition */
   static int iteration = 13; /* local static variable */
   iteration ++;
   printf("iteration=%d and counter= %d\n", iteration, counter);}

Result:

iteration=14 and counter= 7
iteration=15 and counter= 8
iteration=16 and counter= 9

Global variables are accessible throughout the file whereas static variables are accessible only to the particular part of a code.

The lifespan of a static variable is in the entire program code. A variable which is declared or initialized using static keyword always contains zero as a default value.

Example: register int age;

The keyword register is used to declare a register storage class. The variables declared using register storage class has lifespan throughout the program.

It is similar to the auto storage class. The variable is limited to the particular block. The only difference is that the variables declared using register storage class are stored inside CPU registers instead of a memory. Register has faster access than that of the main memory.

The variables declared using register storage class has no default value. These variables are often declared at the beginning of a program.

#include <stdio.h> /* function declaration */
main() {
{register int  weight;
int *ptr=&weight ;/*it produces an error when the compilation occurs ,we cannot get a memory location when dealing with CPU register*/}
}

OUTPUT:

error: address of register variable 'weight' requested

The next table summarizes the principal features of each storage class which are commonly used in C programming

Summary

In this tutorial we have discussed storage classes in C, to sum up:

• A storage class in C is used to represent additional information about a variable.
• Storage class represents the scope and lifespan of a variable.
• It also tells who can access a variable and from where?
• Auto, extern, register, static are the four different storage classes in a C program.
• A storage class specifier in C language is used to define variables, functions, and parameters.
• auto is used for a local variable defined within a block or function
• register is used to store the variable in CPU registers rather memory location for quick access.
• Static is used for both global and local variables. Each one has its use case within a C program.
• Extern is used for data sharing between C project files.