C++ attribute: no_unique_address (since C++20)
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Declarations
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Attributes
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(C++23)
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(C++11)
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(C++14)
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(C++17)
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(C++26)
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(C++20)
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(C++17)
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(C++17)
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no_unique_address (C++20) |
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(C++20)
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Allows this data member to be overlapped with other non-static data members or base class subobjects of its class.
Syntax
[[no_unique_address]]
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Explanation
Applies to the name being declared in the declaration of a non-static data member that's not a bit-field.
Makes this member subobject potentially-overlapping empty base
Notes
[[no_unique_address]] is ignored by MSVC even in C++20 mode; instead, [[msvc::no_unique_address]]
Example
Run this code
#include <iostream> struct Empty {}; // empty class struct X { int i; Empty e; }; struct Y { int i; [[no_unique_address]] Empty e; }; struct Z { char c; [[no_unique_address]] Empty e1, e2; }; struct W { char c[2]; [[no_unique_address]] Empty e1, e2; }; int main() { // the size of any object of empty class type is at least 1 static_assert(sizeof(Empty) >= 1); // at least one more byte is needed to give e a unique address static_assert(sizeof(X) >= sizeof(int) + 1); // empty member optimized out std::cout << "sizeof(Y) == sizeof(int) is " << std::boolalpha << (sizeof(Y) == sizeof(int)) << '\n'; // e1 and e2 cannot share the same address because they have the // same type, even though they are marked with [[no_unique_address]]. // However, either may share address with c. static_assert(sizeof(Z) >= 2); // e1 and e2 cannot have the same address, but one of them can share with // c[0] and the other with c[1] std::cout << "sizeof(W) == 2 is " << (sizeof(W) == 2) << '\n'; }
Possible output:
sizeof(Y) == sizeof(int) is true sizeof(W) == 2 is true
References
- C++23 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2024):
- 9.12.11 No unique address attribute [dcl.attr.nouniqueaddr]
- C++20 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2020):
- 9.12.10 No unique address attribute [dcl.attr.nouniqueaddr]