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I just learned about bit fields and now I am wondering why they can only be applied to member variables, rather than global or function level variables.

for something like

int main(){
    unsigned u : 3;
}

I get 

error: expected ';' at end of declaration
    unsigned u : 3

So, why do bit fields not work for variables other than members?

lo tolmencre
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  • I guess it will work only with struct. – Sumeet Oct 05 '16 at 07:15
  • @fquinner That one's about C, this one's about C++, but the same rationale probably covers both languages. Tricky. –  Oct 05 '16 at 07:18
  • There's no separate rationale for C++. C++ inherited them from C, and the changes are merely practical (i.e. a bitfield member can be `private` in C++, but that's not a very intentional change from C. It follows from the rule that all members obey access specifications) – MSalters Oct 05 '16 at 13:46

0 Answers0