Sequence points...

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A sequence point in imperative programming defines any point in a computer program's execution at which it is guaranteed that all side effects of previous evaluations will have been performed, and no side effects from subsequent evaluations have yet been performed..

The C language defines the following sequence points:
    ·         Left operand of the logical-AND operator (&&). The left operand of the logical-AND operator is completely evaluated and all side effects complete before continuing. If the left operand evaluates to false (0), the other operand is not evaluated.

·         Left operand of the logical-OR operator (||). The left operand of the logical-OR operator is completely evaluated and all side effects complete before continuing. If the left operand evaluates to true (nonzero), the other operand is not evaluated.

·         Left operand of the comma operator. The left operand of the comma operator is completely evaluated and all side effects complete before continuing. Both operands of the comma operator are always evaluated. Note that the comma operator in a function call does not guarantee an order of evaluation.

·         Function-call operator. All arguments to a function are evaluated and all side effects complete before entry to the function. No order of evaluation among the arguments is specified.

·         First operand of the conditional operator. The first operand of the conditional operator is completely evaluated and all side effects complete before continuing.

·         The end of a full initialization expression (that is, an expression that is not part of another expression such as the end of an initialization in a declaration statement).

·         The expression in an expression statement. Expression statements consist of an optional expression followed by a semicolon (;). The expression is evaluated for its side effects and there is a sequence point following this evaluation.

·         The controlling expression in a selection (if or switch) statement. The expression is completely evaluated and all side effects complete before the code dependent on the selection is executed.

·         The controlling expression of a while or do statement. The expression is completely evaluated and all side effects complete before any statements in the next iteration of the while or do loop are executed.

·         Each of the three expressions of a for statement. The expressions are completely evaluated and all side effects complete before any statements in the next iteration of the for loop are executed.

·         The expression in a return statement. The expression is completely evaluated and all side effects complete before control returns to the calling function.

The Standard states that:
 Between the previous and next sequence point an object shall have its stored value modified at most once by the evaluation of an expression. Furthermore, the prior value shall be accessed only to determine the value to be stored.

Now,In an expression statement, the ``next sequence point'' is usually at the terminating semicolon, and the ``previous sequence point'' is at the end of the previous statement. An expression may also contain intermediate sequence points..

Undefined Behaviour::

"C guarantees that all side effects of a given expression is completed by the next sequence point in the program. If two or more operations with side effects affecting each other occur before the next sequence point, the behavior is undefined. "

just take a look at this...

#include <stdio.h>

int main()

{

    int i = 5;

    printf("%d %d %d\n", i, i--, ++i);

    return 0;

}

The output is 5 6 5 when compiled with gcc and 6 6 6 when compiled with Microsoft C/C++ compiler.

take a look at another one....

#include <stdio.h>

int main()

{

    int a = 5;

    a += a++ + a++;

    printf("%d\n", a);

    return 0;

}

output as 17 with both the compilers...

The behaviour of such C programs is undefined. In the statement printf("%d %d %d\n", i, i--, ++i); and a += a++ + a++;, semicolon is the only sequence point.Such code may behave differently when compiled with different compilers.

From K&R. In Section 2.12 (Precedence and Order of Evaluation) of the book, the authors write,

C, like most languages, does not specify the order in which the operands of an operator are evaluated. (The exceptions are &&, ||, ?:, and ','.) For example, in a statement like

x = f() + g();

f may be evaluated before g or vice versa; thus if either f or g alters a variable on which the other depends, x can depend on the order of evaluation. Intermediate results can be stored in temporary variables to ensure a particular sequence.

One unhappy situation is typified by the statement

a[i] = i++;

The question is whether the subscript is the old value of i or the new. Compilers can interpret this in different ways, and generate different answers depending on their interpretation.