Is it valid to use bit fields with union?

Question

I have used bit field with a structure like this,

struct
{
       unsigned int is_static: 1;
       unsigned int is_extern: 1;
       unsigned int is_auto: 1;
} flags;

Now i wondered to see if this can be done with a union so i modified the code like,

union
{
       unsigned int is_static: 1;
       unsigned int is_extern: 1;
       unsigned int is_auto: 1;
} flags;

I found the bit field with union works but all those fields in the union are given to a single bit as I understood from output. Now I am seeing it is not erroneous to use bit fields with union, but it seems to me that using it like this is not operationally correct. So what is the answer - is it valid to use bit field with union?

Solution 1

You are given a gun and bullets. Is it okay to shoot your self in foot with it? Of course not, but nobody can stop you from doing this if you want to.

My point is, just like gun and bullets, union and bit fields are tools and they have their purpose, uses and "abuses". So using bitfields in union, as you have written above, is perfectly valid C but a useless piece of code. All the fields inside union share same memory so all the bitfields you mention are essentially same flag as they share same memory.

Solution 2

It is valid but as you found out, not useful the way you have done it there.

You might do something like this so you can reset all the bits at the same time using flags.

union {
    struct {
        unsigned int is_static: 1;
        unsigned int is_extern: 1;
        unsigned int is_auto: 1;
    };
    unsigned int flags;
};

Or you might do something like this:

union {
    struct {
        unsigned int is_static: 1;
        unsigned int is_extern: 1;
        unsigned int is_auto: 1;
    };
    struct {
        unsigned int is_ready: 1;
        unsigned int is_done: 1;
        unsigned int is_waiting: 1;
    };
};

Comments

[unkulunkulu]

I have added some semicolons assuming you wanted anonymous structures. Also note that they're not standard C. In gcc, you have to use -fms-extensions for these to work.

[netskink]

<a href='stackoverflow.com/users/5352316/trist'>TrisT</a> Tell me about it. Someone just downvoted my answer here showing the OP how to do just that. Gotta love SO.