alignof operator (since C++11)

 

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Queries alignment requirements of a type

Syntax

alignof( type )

Returns an object of type std::size_t.

Explanation

Returns alignment in bytes (an integer power of two) required for any instance of the given type, which is either complete type, an array type, or a reference type.

If the type is reference type, the operator returns the alignment of referenced type; if the type is array type, alignment requirement of the element type is returned.

The types char, signed char, and unsigned char have the weakest (smallest) alignment supported by the implementation.

Keywords

alignof

Example

run this code

#include <iostream>
 
struct Empty {};
 
struct Foo {
     int f2;
     float f1;
     char c;
};
 
int main()
{
    std::cout << "alignment of empty class: " << alignof(Empty) << '\n'
              << "alignment of pointer : "    << alignof(int*)  << '\n'
              << "alignment of char : "       << alignof(char)  << '\n'
              << "alignment of Foo : "        << alignof(Foo)   << '\n' ;
}

Output:

alignment of empty class: 1
alignment of pointer : 8
alignment of char : 1
alignment of Foo : 4

See also

alignas specifier	specifies that the storage for the variable should be aligned by specific amount (C++11)
alignment_of (C++11)	obtains the type's alignment requirements (class template)