Type-Based Alias Analysis

This chapter explains how to use the -xalias_level option and several pragmas to enable the compiler to perform type-based alias analysis and optimizations. You use these extensions to express type-based information about the way pointers are used in your C program. The C compiler uses this information, in turn, for alias disambiguation of pointer-based memory references in your program.

See -xalias_level[=l] for a detailed explanation of this command’s syntax. Also, see -Xalias_level[=l] for an explanation of the lint program’s type-based alias-analysis capabilities.

• Introduction to Type-Based Analysis

• Using Pragmas for Finer Control

• Checking With lint

• Examples of Memory Reference Constraints