Question

Can you explain how the sizeof() works with a random length array? I thought sizeof() on an array is calculated during the compilation, however, the size of an array with random length seems to be calculated correctly.

Example:

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <time.h>

int main(){
    srand ( (unsigned)time ( NULL ) );
    int r = rand()%10;
    int arr[r]; //array with random length
    printf("r = %d size = %d\n",r, sizeof(arr)); //print the random number, array size
    return 0;
}

The output from multiple runs:

r = 8 size = 32
r = 6 size = 24
r = 1 size = 4

Compiler: gcc 4.4.3

Answer 1

In C99 sizeof variable sized arrays is computed in runtime. From the C99 draft 6.5.3.4/2:

The sizeof operator yields the size (in bytes) of its operand, which
may be an expression or the parenthesized name of a type. The size is
determined from the type of the operand. The result is an integer. If
the type of the operand is a variable length array type, the operand
is evaluated; otherwise, the operand is not evaluated and the result
is an integer constant