Re: technology discussion → does the world need a "new" C ?

bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:

On 10/07/2024 16:48, Tim Rentsch wrote:
>

bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>

I earlier asked this:
>
"So if arrays aren't passed by value in C, and they aren't passed
by reference, then how the hell ARE they passed?!"

>
They aren't.  C allows lots of things to be passed as an argument
to a function:  several varieties of numeric values, structs,
unions, and pointers, including both pointers to object types and
pointers to function types.  C does not have a way for a function
to take an argument that is either an array or a function.  There
is a way to take pointers to those things, but not the things
themselves.  Arrays and functions are second-class values in C.

>
That's a good point.  It's not just arrays that can't be passed by
value (because the language says so) but also functions (because its
not meaningful).
>
Yet, although pointers to arrays and function can be passed (without
even doing anything special like using &), you are not allowed to say
that anything is passed by reference in C!

My comment is not about what people are allowed to say.  It's
about what is true.  The truth is, in C, all function arguments
are passed by value.  That statement doesn't depend on how anyone
thinks about it or what they call it.