aliasing bug
:aliasing bug: n. A class of subtle programming errors that can arise in
code that does dynamic allocation, esp. via `malloc(3)' or equivalent.
If several pointers address (`aliases for') a given hunk of storage, it
may happen that the storage is freed or reallocated (and thus moved)
through one alias and then referenced through another, which may lead to
subtle (and possibly intermittent) lossage depending on the state and
the allocation history of the malloc arena
Avoidable by use of
allocation strategies that never alias allocated core, or by use of
higher-level languages, such as LISP
which employ a garbage collector
(see GC
). Also called a stale pointer bug
. See also {precedence lossage}
}, smash the stack
, fandango on core
, memory leak
, {memory smash}
}, overrun screw
, spam
Historical note: Though this term is nowadays associated with C
programming, it was already in use in a very similar sense in the
Algol-60 and FORTRAN communities in the 1960s.
Jargon File Version 4.3.1, 29 JUN 2001 =
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