c programming using a static variable and then pointing to it ? possible?-CodePudding

In c when creating and returning the address in a static variable inside a function would it be the same as initializing a simple

int sNum2 = 0 ; int * temp = &sNum2;

? static will basically have it's own allocated size in the memory right?

and i could just point to it from the staticNum function from now?

Maybe is not a good practice but is it ok to use?

 int * staticNum(){
  int static sNum=0;
  int * temp=&sNum;
  sNum  ;
  return temp;
}

CodePudding user response：

This is valid code.

A static variable, whether declared at file scope or inside of a function, has full program lifetime. That means its address will always be valid and can be safely dereferenced at any point in the program.

CodePudding user response：

The returned pointer from the function

  int * staticNum(){
  int static sNum=0;
  int * temp=&sNum;
  sNum  ;
  return temp;
}

will be valid because the static variable sNum will be alive after exiting the function.

CodePudding user response：

Yes, it's ok to use. A pointer to a static variable, is just like any other pointer. Just pointing to the place in the data segment where the static variable is stored.