Storage Class Specifiers

The storage class specifier used within the declaration determines whether:

• The object has internal, external, or no linkage.
• The object is to be stored in memory or in a register, if available.
• The object receives the default initial value 0 or an indeterminate default initial value.
• The object can be referenced throughout a program or only within the function, block, or source file where the variable is defined.
• Storage duration for the object is static (storage is maintained throughout program run time) or automatic (storage is maintained only during the execution of the block where the object is defined).

For a function, the storage class specifier determines the linkage of the function.

The IBM C and C++ Compilers implements an additional storage class specifier for functions, inline. The _Inline and inline specifiers determine whether the function code will be inlined or called.

Note that _Inline and inline are ignored if the /Oi- compiler option is specified.

Inline
C++ Inline Functions
Inline Specifiers
extern
register
static