.NET Forum / .NET Framework / New Users / June 2006
Struct inside class
|
|
Thread rating:  |
Sneil - 30 May 2006 11:27 GMT Example: namespace _111_ { public struct S { public int i1, i2; } public class C { public S s; } class Program { static void Main(string[] args) { C myClass = new C(); myClass.s.i1 = 999; myClass.s.i2 = 888; //at this point some memory must be assigned for myClass.s.i1 & myClass.s.i2 //question: where this memory was taken from? From stack? Or from heap? } } }
I just don't sure....
Barry Kelly - 30 May 2006 11:38 GMT > Example: > namespace _111_ [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > { > C myClass = new C(); // At this point, memory is allocated for the struct s inside the new instance of C.
> myClass.s.i1 = 999; > myClass.s.i2 = 888; > //at this point some memory must be assigned for > myClass.s.i1 & myClass.s.i2 > //question: where this memory was taken from? From stack? > Or from heap? The memory for the struct s in this example is part of (i.e. fully contained within) the heap-allocated object myClass.
> } > } > } -- Barry
 Signature http://barrkel.blogspot.com/
Sneil - 30 May 2006 12:45 GMT > The memory for the struct s in this example is part of (i.e. fully > contained within) the heap-allocated object myClass. OK, I think the same. BUT! In other words myClass.s.i1 is already in heap, yes? Now - what is boxing? Boxing is creating special packed version of value-type in heap. In our case i1 ALREADY in heap. So... object o = myClass.s.i1; //_not_ a boxing here? ???
Göran Andersson - 30 May 2006 12:54 GMT >> The memory for the struct s in this example is part of (i.e. fully >> contained within) the heap-allocated object myClass. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > object o = myClass.s.i1; //_not_ a boxing here? > ??? Yes, it's boxed. You are not storing the myClass.s.il variable in the object, you are storing a copy of the value of the myClass.s.il variable.
Jon Skeet [C# MVP] - 31 May 2006 07:50 GMT > > OK, I think the same. BUT! In other words myClass.s.i1 is already in > > heap, yes? Now - what is boxing? Boxing is creating special packed [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Yes, it's boxed. You are not storing the myClass.s.il variable in the > object, you are storing a copy of the value of the myClass.s.il variable. No, there's no boxing going on there. Boxing is creating a separate object on the heap for a value type. That's not happening here.
 Signature Jon Skeet - <skeet@pobox.com> http://www.pobox.com/~skeet Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/jon.skeet If replying to the group, please do not mail me too
Göran Andersson - 31 May 2006 10:32 GMT >>> OK, I think the same. BUT! In other words myClass.s.i1 is already in >>> heap, yes? Now - what is boxing? Boxing is creating special packed [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > No, there's no boxing going on there. Boxing is creating a separate > object on the heap for a value type. That's not happening here. Yes, it is.
myClass.s.i1 is an integer variable. The value copied from that integer variable can not be stored in the variable o, as it is an object reference, so a separate object has to be created on the heap where the value can be stored, and the reference to that object is stored in the variable o.
Michael D. Ober - 31 May 2006 14:06 GMT You're missing the point.
All instance data inside a class is stored on the heap, but within the memory allocation for that object. The compiler figures computes the instance data layout, just like it would for the local variables in a procedure and then references all the instance data relative to the instance base address. This is very simple to code in machine assembler (MOV AX, WORD PTR [DX]) for example. Boxing is a runtime feature and is used only when an object's type is unknown at compile time. When you put a struct inside a class, the compiler knows the types at runtime, except when you declare a structure component as a generic "Object".
Here's a simple set of rules for how storage is allocated:
Reference types, including anything derived from "Object": Heap pointer from either a stack frame, global compilera allocated storage, or another object on the heap. All Value Types, including "Struct": Stored on the stack, in global compiler allocated storage, or relative to the base address of an object on the heap
Where this gets confusing is when you use a value type as part of the instance data of a reference type. In this case, the value type is stored on the heap, but inside the allocated space for the reference type instance. When you use a reference type as instance data of a reference type, all that is allocated inside the containing reference type instances is a pointer to the instance data. This complexity is why C and C++ programs tend to have memory leaks and why the .NET good garbage collector is required.
Note that I referenced "global compiler allocated storage". This is the memory allocated by the compiler for globally accessible public variables as well as static (VB Shared) variables associated with objects. On the x86 platforms, this memory is reference relative to the "DS" register.
In your original example,
namespace _111_ { public struct S { public int i1, i2; } public class C { public S s; } class Program { static void Main(string[] args) { C myClass = new C(); myClass.s.i1 = 999; myClass.s.i2 = 888; //at this point some memory must be assigned for myClass.s.i1 & myClass.s.i2 //question: where this memory was taken from? From stack? Or from heap? } } }
The class C is allocated from the heap. Since struct S is a value type, it it stored entirely in the class. The named components of S are also value types, so they are stored inside S:
Offset Value Code Reference Comments 0000 i1 base of class C, start of Struct S, int i1 is laid down first by the compiler 0004 i2 int i2 0008 next object starts here
In code: // myClass = allocate(C) MOV EAX, 8 // C is 8 bytes long - GC_ALLOCATE will return the offset in EAX as well CALL GC_ALLOCATE // Have the garbage collector allocate 8 bytes of storage // The GC will add object overhead, but these will be negative offsets from the returned address. MOV [ESP], EAX // The variable myClass is on the stack at offset 0 relative to the current stack frame BP MOV EAX, myClass // myClass's address is actually stored on the stack; this instruction can be optimized out in this case MOV DWORD PTR [EAX], 999 // myClass.s.i1 = 999 MOV DWORD PTR [EAX]+4, 888 // myClass.s.i2 = 888
First - I don't guarantee the syntax (I haven't written in x86 assembler in several years), but this is close enough for discussion. Second - GC_ALLOCATE returns an offset into the heap. This is a "magic" number that the memory management subsystem handles for you. It is relative to the value in register DS, which is set at application startup by the memory manager. As you should be able to see from the assembler code, there is no "boxing" of the variables. Boxing requires a rather expensive call to determine an object's actual data type.
All Reference types are allocated in a similar method to the above example. Value types are allocated by the compiler and don't require the call to GC_ALLOCATE at run time.
Note the magic occurring in "GC_ALLOCATE" - it allocates memory from the heap and returns an offset into the heap that is then used by later code for reference to the memory. The actual object size will be 8 bytes plus garbage collector management buffer. The GC management buffer will be at negative offets to the returned address, thus making the rest of the compiler easier to write. If GC_ALLOCATE can't allocate the requested memory, it calls GC_COLLECT, which runs compacts accessible heap memory and resets the allocation pointer for GC_ALLOCATE, which then tries again. If GC_ALLOCATE still can't allocate memory, it asks the OS to extend the heap. The OS returns the new heap size to GC_ALLOCATE. If GC_ALLOCATE still can't allocate the requested memory, it throws an Out of Memory exception.
Mike Ober.
> >>> OK, I think the same. BUT! In other words myClass.s.i1 is already in > >>> heap, yes? Now - what is boxing? Boxing is creating special packed [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > value can be stored, and the reference to that object is stored in the > variable o. Göran Andersson - 31 May 2006 16:03 GMT No, you are missing the point.
This is the code in question:
object o = myClass.s.i1;
From the previous discussion, we know that i1 is a member variable of a strunct in a class, so it's stored on the heap.
The question was if boxing occurs or not, considering that the i1 variable is stored on the heap.
The answer is that boxing does occur, because it's not the i1 variable that is stored in the object, but the value from the i1 variable. It doesn't matter where the i1 variable is stored.
> > You're missing the point. [quoted text clipped - 128 lines] >> value can be stored, and the reference to that object is stored in the >> variable o. Carl Daniel [VC++ MVP] - 31 May 2006 16:14 GMT > No, you are missing the point. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > that is stored in the object, but the value from the i1 variable. It > doesn't matter where the i1 variable is stored. Absolutely correct. o is a reference to a boxed int that contains the same value as the variable myClass.s.i1.
The only way to not incur boxing in a case like this is to hold an "interior pointer" to myClass.s.i1. An ordinary object reference is not an interior pointer - it always references a complete object.
-cd
Michael D. Ober - 31 May 2006 23:03 GMT In OPs original source, it isn't obvious that OP is referring to a generic object variable. In this case, boxing must be done. The runtime cannot operate on a generic object variable without the boxing. I suspect that the concrete object will still be laid out the same manner by the compiler, but that the compiler will have to generate addition calls into the memory manager to box and unbox every reference to the object "o". That's why I copied OP's original sample.
Mike.
> No, you are missing the point. > [quoted text clipped - 143 lines] > >> value can be stored, and the reference to that object is stored in the > >> variable o. Sneil - 31 May 2006 20:57 GMT WOW! It's just amazing answer, almost little article. :) Great thanks for it!
> It is relative to the value in register DS, which is set at > application startup by the memory manager. As you should be able to > see from the assembler code, there is no "boxing" of the variables. > Boxing requires a rather expensive call to determine an object's > actual data type. Yes, you absolutely right - up to this point no any boxing. But my second question was: ..... myClass.s.i1 = 999; myClass.s.i2 = 888; object o = myClass.s.i1; //<< is boxing _here_? Now I am sure - it IS. I see it in Reflector: ..... L_001d: ldc.i4 888 L_0022: stfld int32 _111_.S::i2 L_0027: ldloc.0 L_0028: ldflda _111_.S _111_.C::s L_002d: ldfld int32 _111_.S::i1
>> L_0032: _box int32_ L_0037: stloc.1 ..... So - in spite of the fact that i1 already in heap it can not be stored in the variable o, so boxing it is inevitable.
Michael D. Ober - 01 Jun 2006 12:41 GMT I missed the second question as I couldn't get a clean download until this morning. Sorry about that. As you have already discovered, boxing requires additional code and an additional call into the memory manager. There will be analogous code on the outbound side of the box as well. Boxing not only takes additional code, but it also takes additional memory since the runtime must store the metadata for the variable as well.
Mike.
> WOW! It's just amazing answer, almost little article. :) Great thanks > for it! [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > So - in spite of the fact that i1 already in heap it can not be stored > in the variable o, so boxing it is inevitable. Jon Skeet [C# MVP] - 31 May 2006 17:44 GMT > Yes, it is. > > myClass.s.i1 is an integer variable. The value copied from that integer > variable can not be stored in the variable o, as it is an object > reference Ah, yes, I missed the storage in the variable o. Yes, this involves boxing. The struct within a class bit is entirely irrelevant.
 Signature Jon Skeet - <skeet@pobox.com> http://www.pobox.com/~skeet Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/jon.skeet If replying to the group, please do not mail me too
Michael D. Ober - 01 Jun 2006 12:42 GMT Actually, the struct inside a class is relavant. The compiler uses this information to generate the metadata required by the boxing.
Mike.
Göran Andersson <guffa@guffa.com> wrote:
> Yes, it is. > > myClass.s.i1 is an integer variable. The value copied from that integer > variable can not be stored in the variable o, as it is an object > reference Ah, yes, I missed the storage in the variable o. Yes, this involves boxing. The struct within a class bit is entirely irrelevant.
 Signature Jon Skeet - <skeet@pobox.com> http://www.pobox.com/~skeet Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/jon.skeet If replying to the group, please do not mail me too
Göran Andersson - 01 Jun 2006 23:27 GMT No, it's not. It's just an integer value that is stored in the boxing object. Where the value came from originally is totally irrelevant for how the boxing is done.
If you compare these two statements:
object o = myClass.s.i1;
and
object p = 999;
The values that will be stored in the boxing objects will be identical, and the boxing will be performed in exactly the same way.
> Actually, the struct inside a class is relavant. The compiler uses this > information to generate the metadata required by the boxing. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Ah, yes, I missed the storage in the variable o. Yes, this involves > boxing. The struct within a class bit is entirely irrelevant. Michael D. Ober - 02 Jun 2006 13:51 GMT The relavance comes from the compiler itself having to know which data type metadata to feed to the boxing routine. In the case of the struct, the compiler must know the structure's contained datatypes or it can't box. In the second case, the compiler also determines the datatype to give the boxing routines. You are correct that it's not relevant at runtime, but it is relavant at compile time.
Mike Ober.
> No, it's not. It's just an integer value that is stored in the boxing > object. Where the value came from originally is totally irrelevant for [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Ah, yes, I missed the storage in the variable o. Yes, this involves > > boxing. The struct within a class bit is entirely irrelevant. Jon Skeet [C# MVP] - 03 Jun 2006 07:17 GMT > The relavance comes from the compiler itself having to know which data type > metadata to feed to the boxing routine. In the case of the struct, the > compiler must know the structure's contained datatypes or it can't box. In > the second case, the compiler also determines the datatype to give the > boxing routines. You are correct that it's not relevant at runtime, but it > is relavant at compile time Yes, it has to know the type - but that's true whatever you're doing. Boxing a value from inside a struct which is inside a class is exactly the same as boxing a value of the same type which is evaluated in a different way.
The compiler is able to traverse the expression to work out the type required, but that's orthogonal to boxing.
 Signature Jon Skeet - <skeet@pobox.com> http://www.pobox.com/~skeet Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/jon.skeet If replying to the group, please do not mail me too
Jon Skeet [C# MVP] - 03 Jun 2006 07:14 GMT > Actually, the struct inside a class is relavant. The compiler uses this > information to generate the metadata required by the boxing. The fact that the value originally came from inside a class is irrelevant. The boxing just creates a boxed System.Int32, regardless of the origin of the value. The type of the value and the evaluated value are the only important things.
 Signature Jon Skeet - <skeet@pobox.com> http://www.pobox.com/~skeet Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/jon.skeet If replying to the group, please do not mail me too
Michael D. Ober - 03 Jun 2006 16:58 GMT Agreed.
Mike.
> > Actually, the struct inside a class is relavant. The compiler uses this > > information to generate the metadata required by the boxing. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > the origin of the value. The type of the value and the evaluated value > are the only important things.
Free MagazinesGet these publications absolutely FREE for up to 12 months. There are no hidden fees and no obligation. Simply choose a title, complete the application form and submit it. Read more ...
|
|
|