Segfault while accessing dynamicly allocated C struct array












-1















I have the following struct that is defined in the following way



typedef struct _abcd {
int a;
unsigned long b;
void (*c)(int);
int d;
} abcd_t, *abcd;


Now i have the following code



static abcd foo

int set_size(int size){
foo = malloc(sizeof(abcd) * size);
}


This code for some reason gives me segfault when accessing some of the properties of array members.
But i have noticed that if i change the malloc line to the following - it fixes the issue



foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);


I find it strange as obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)
So what is exactly the difference here?



Thanks










share|improve this question





























    -1















    I have the following struct that is defined in the following way



    typedef struct _abcd {
    int a;
    unsigned long b;
    void (*c)(int);
    int d;
    } abcd_t, *abcd;


    Now i have the following code



    static abcd foo

    int set_size(int size){
    foo = malloc(sizeof(abcd) * size);
    }


    This code for some reason gives me segfault when accessing some of the properties of array members.
    But i have noticed that if i change the malloc line to the following - it fixes the issue



    foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);


    I find it strange as obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)
    So what is exactly the difference here?



    Thanks










    share|improve this question



























      -1












      -1








      -1








      I have the following struct that is defined in the following way



      typedef struct _abcd {
      int a;
      unsigned long b;
      void (*c)(int);
      int d;
      } abcd_t, *abcd;


      Now i have the following code



      static abcd foo

      int set_size(int size){
      foo = malloc(sizeof(abcd) * size);
      }


      This code for some reason gives me segfault when accessing some of the properties of array members.
      But i have noticed that if i change the malloc line to the following - it fixes the issue



      foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);


      I find it strange as obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)
      So what is exactly the difference here?



      Thanks










      share|improve this question
















      I have the following struct that is defined in the following way



      typedef struct _abcd {
      int a;
      unsigned long b;
      void (*c)(int);
      int d;
      } abcd_t, *abcd;


      Now i have the following code



      static abcd foo

      int set_size(int size){
      foo = malloc(sizeof(abcd) * size);
      }


      This code for some reason gives me segfault when accessing some of the properties of array members.
      But i have noticed that if i change the malloc line to the following - it fixes the issue



      foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);


      I find it strange as obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)
      So what is exactly the difference here?



      Thanks







      c malloc dynamic-arrays






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Nov 15 '18 at 0:56







      Dor Dali

















      asked Nov 15 '18 at 0:50









      Dor DaliDor Dali

      235




      235
























          2 Answers
          2






          active

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          2















          obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)




          It is not the same since you typedefed abcd to be a *pointer* to struct _abcd.



          Use



          foo = malloc(sizeof(*foo) * size);


          to have robust code even if the type of foo should change at some point.



          Your




          foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);



          is essentially the same since foo[0] is just syntactic sugar for *(foo + 0) which becomes *foo.






          share|improve this answer































            0














            The bug is you're allocating sizeof(abcd) and that's a pointer, not a struct. You want sizeof(abcd_t) or sizeof(*abcd).






            share|improve this answer























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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              2















              obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)




              It is not the same since you typedefed abcd to be a *pointer* to struct _abcd.



              Use



              foo = malloc(sizeof(*foo) * size);


              to have robust code even if the type of foo should change at some point.



              Your




              foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);



              is essentially the same since foo[0] is just syntactic sugar for *(foo + 0) which becomes *foo.






              share|improve this answer




























                2















                obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)




                It is not the same since you typedefed abcd to be a *pointer* to struct _abcd.



                Use



                foo = malloc(sizeof(*foo) * size);


                to have robust code even if the type of foo should change at some point.



                Your




                foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);



                is essentially the same since foo[0] is just syntactic sugar for *(foo + 0) which becomes *foo.






                share|improve this answer


























                  2












                  2








                  2








                  obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)




                  It is not the same since you typedefed abcd to be a *pointer* to struct _abcd.



                  Use



                  foo = malloc(sizeof(*foo) * size);


                  to have robust code even if the type of foo should change at some point.



                  Your




                  foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);



                  is essentially the same since foo[0] is just syntactic sugar for *(foo + 0) which becomes *foo.






                  share|improve this answer














                  obviously sizeof(foo[0]) = sizeof(abcd)




                  It is not the same since you typedefed abcd to be a *pointer* to struct _abcd.



                  Use



                  foo = malloc(sizeof(*foo) * size);


                  to have robust code even if the type of foo should change at some point.



                  Your




                  foo = malloc(sizeof(foo[0]) * size);



                  is essentially the same since foo[0] is just syntactic sugar for *(foo + 0) which becomes *foo.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Nov 15 '18 at 0:55









                  SwordfishSwordfish

                  10.1k11436




                  10.1k11436

























                      0














                      The bug is you're allocating sizeof(abcd) and that's a pointer, not a struct. You want sizeof(abcd_t) or sizeof(*abcd).






                      share|improve this answer




























                        0














                        The bug is you're allocating sizeof(abcd) and that's a pointer, not a struct. You want sizeof(abcd_t) or sizeof(*abcd).






                        share|improve this answer


























                          0












                          0








                          0







                          The bug is you're allocating sizeof(abcd) and that's a pointer, not a struct. You want sizeof(abcd_t) or sizeof(*abcd).






                          share|improve this answer













                          The bug is you're allocating sizeof(abcd) and that's a pointer, not a struct. You want sizeof(abcd_t) or sizeof(*abcd).







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered Nov 15 '18 at 0:56









                          John ZwinckJohn Zwinck

                          153k17177296




                          153k17177296






























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