L-Value and R-Value Expressions

Expressions that refer to memory locations are called “l-value” expressions. An l-value represents a storage region's “ locator” value, or a “left” value, implying that it can appear on the left of the equal sign (=). L-values are often identifiers.

Expressions referring to modifiable locations are called “modifiable l-values.” A modifiable l-value cannot have an array type, an incomplete type, or a type with the const attribute. For structures and unions to be modifiable l-values, they must not have any members with the const attribute. The name of the identifier denotes a storage location, while the value of the variable is the value stored at that location.

An identifier is a modifiable l-value if it refers to a memory location and if its type is arithmetic, structure, union, or pointer. For example, if ptr is a pointer to a storage region, then *ptr is a modifiable l-value that designates the storage region to which ptr points.

Any of the following C expressions can be l-value expressions:

An identifier of integral, floating, pointer, structure, or union type

A subscript ([ ]) expression that does not evaluate to an array

A member-selection expression (–> or .)

A unary-indirection (*) expression that does not refer to an array

An l-value expression in parentheses

A const object (a nonmodifiable l-value)

The term “r-value” is sometimes used to describe the value of an expression and to distinguish it from an l-value. All l-values are r-values but not all r-values are l-values.

Microsoft Specific

Microsoft C includes an extension to the ANSI C standard that allows casts of l-values to be used as l-values, as long as the size of the object does not change. (See “Type-Cast Conversions”for more information.) The following example illustrates this feature:

char *p ;

short i;

long l;

(long *) p = &l ; /* Legal cast */

(long) i = l ; /* Illegal cast */

The default for Microsoft C is that the Microsoft extensions are enabled. Use the /Za command-line option to disable these extensions.¨