_Alignof operator (since C11)

Queries the alignment requirement of its operand type.

Syntax

Explanation

Returns the alignment requirement of the type named by type-name. If type-name is an array type, the result is the alignment requirement of the array element type. The type-name cannot be function type or an incomplete type.

The result is an integer constant of type size_t.

The operand is not evaluated (so external identifiers used in the operand do not have to be defined).

If type-name is a VLA type, its size expression is not evaluated.

Notes

The use of _Alignof(until C23)alignof(since C23) with expressions is allowed by some C compilers as a non-standard extension.

Keywords

alignof, _Alignof

Example

#include <stdalign.h>
#include <stddef.h>
#include <stdio.h>
 
int main(void)
{
    printf("Alignment of char = %zu\n", alignof(char));
    printf("Alignment of max_align_t = %zu\n", alignof(max_align_t));
    printf("alignof(float[10]) = %zu\n", alignof(float[10]));
    printf("alignof(struct{char c; int n;}) = %zu\n",
            alignof(struct {char c; int n;}));
}

Alignment of char = 1
Alignment of max_align_t = 16
alignof(float[10]) = 4
alignof(struct{char c; int n;}) = 4

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C standards.

References

• C23 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2023):
• 6.5.3.4 The sizeof and alignof operators (p: TBD)
• C17 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2018):
• 6.5.3.4 The sizeof and _Alignof operators (p: 64-65)
• C11 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2011):
• 6.5.3.4 The sizeof and _Alignof operators (p: 90-91)

See also