This is an unofficial snapshot of the ISO/IEC JTC1 SC22 WG21 Core Issues List revision 114a. See http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/ for the official list.

2024-04-18


151. Terminology of zero-initialization

Section: 9.4  [dcl.init]     Status: TC1     Submitter: Valentin Bonnard     Date: 4 August 1999

In 6.9.3.2 [basic.start.static] paragraph 1 and 9.4 [dcl.init] paragraphs 5 and 6, the terms "memory" and "storage" are used in connection with zero-initialization. This is inaccurate; it is the variables that are zero-initialized, not the storage. (An all-zero bit pattern in the storage may, in fact, not correspond to the representation of zero converted to the appropriate type, and it is the latter that is being described.)

Suggested resolution: remove the words "storage" and "memory" in these contexts.

Proposed resolution (10/00):

Delete the words "The storage for" from the first sentence of 6.9.3.2 [basic.start.static] paragraph 1.

[Note: Revised wording in 9.4 [dcl.init] relating to this issue is also found in issue 178.]