INFO: C2466 Error When Allocating an Array of Length 0

ID: Q87015

The information in this article applies to:

The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE)
- Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
- Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, 16-bit edition, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, 1.52
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, version 1.0

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 : kberrmsg kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbVC100 kbVC150 kbVC151 kbVC152
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 : kbinfo