Static assertion (since C11)

Syntax

Explanation

The constant expression is evaluated at compile time and compared to zero. If it compares equal to zero, a compile-time error occurs and the compiler must display message as part of the error message (except that characters not in basic character set are not required to be displayed)(until C23)should display message (if provided) as part of the error message(since C23).

Otherwise, if expression does not equal zero, nothing happens; no code is emitted.

Keywords

_Static_assert, static_assert

Example

#include <assert.h> // no longer needed since C23
 
int main(void)
{
    // Test if math works, C23:
    static_assert((2 + 2) % 3 == 1, "Whoa dude, you knew!");
    // Pre-C23 alternative:
    _Static_assert(2 + 2 * 2 == 6, "Lucky guess!?");
 
    // This will produce an error at compile time.
    // static_assert(sizeof(int) < sizeof(char), "Unmet condition!");
 
    constexpr int _42 = 2 * 3 * 2 * 3 + 2 * 3;
    static_assert(_42 == 42); // the message string can be omitted.
 
    // const int _13 = 13;
    // Compile time error - not an integer constant expression:
    // static_assert(_13 == 13);
}

References

• C23 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2023):
• 6.7.11 Static assertions (p: TBD)
• C17 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2018):
• 6.7.10 Static assertions (p: 105)
• 7.2 Diagnostics <assert.h> (p: 135)
• C11 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2011):
• 6.7.10 Static assertions (p: 145)
• 7.2 Diagnostics <assert.h> (p: 186-187)

See also