INFO: C2466 Error When Allocating an Array of Length 0

 Last reviewed: September 4, 1997
Article ID: Q87015
The information in this article applies to:
  • The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE) included with: - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0 - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52 - Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, versions 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0

SUMMARY

When you use Microsoft C/C++, the constant expression that you use to allocate or declare an array must be an integral type greater than zero. If not, the following error will occur: 

   C2466: Cannot allocate an array of constant size 0
The following examples are some ways this error can occur: 

   int *p = new X[0];        // error
   C *aC = new [int_var] C;  // error
   int a[0];                 // error
   int func(char *[0]);      // error
NOTE: This does not apply to Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, version 2.0 and later.

If you use the Microsoft extensions (/Ze), an array declaration with a zero subscript is legal for a class, structure, or union member. For more information about valid zero-sized arrays, search the Visual C++ online documentation for the topic "Unsized Arrays."

Additional query words: 8.00 8.00c 9.00 9.10
Keywords : CPPIss
Version : MS-DOS:7.0; WINDOWS:1.0,1.5,1.51,1.52; WINDOWS NT:1.0,2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0
Platform : MS-DOS NT WINDOWS
Issue type : kberrmsg kbinfo

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Last reviewed: September 4, 1997
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