align/doc/align.qbk

[/
Copyright 2014-2017 Glen Joseph Fernandes
(glenjofe@gmail.com)

Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0.
(http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
]

[library Boost.Align
[quickbook 1.6]
[id align]
[copyright 2014-2017 Glen Joseph Fernandes]
[authors [Fernandes, Glen]]
[dirname align]
[license Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0.]]

[section Introduction]

The Boost Align C++ library provides functions, classes, templates, traits,
and macros, for the control, inspection, and diagnostic of memory alignment.

[endsect]

[section Rationale]

[heading Dynamic allocation]

C++11 added the ability to specify increased alignment (over-alignment) for
class types. Unfortunately, `::operator new` allocation functions, `new`
expressions and the Default Allocator, `std::allocator`, do not support
dynamic memory allocation of over-aligned data. This library provides
allocation functions and allocators that respect the alignment requirements of
a type and so are suitable for allocating memory for over-aligned types.

[variablelist
[[`aligned_alloc(alignment, size)`]
[Replaces `::operator new(size, std::nothrow)`]]
[[`aligned_free(pointer)`]
[Replaces `::operator delete(pointer, std::nothrow)`]]
[[`aligned_allocator<T>`][Replaces `std::allocator<T>`]]
[[`aligned_allocator_adaptor<Allocator>`][Replaces use of Allocator]]
[[`aligned_delete`][Replaces `std::default_delete<T>`]]]

[heading Pointer alignment]

C++11 provided `std::align` in the standard library to align a pointer value.
Unfortunately some C++ standard library implementations do not support it yet
(libstdc++ as far as gcc 4.8.0) and other standard library implementations
implement it incorrectly (dinkumware in msvc11.0). This library provides it
for those implementations and also for C++03 compilers where it is equally
useful.

[heading Querying alignment]

C++11 provided the `std::alignment_of` trait in the standard library to query
the alignment requirement of a type. Unfortunately some C++ standard library
vendors do not implement it in an entirely standard conforming manner, such as
for array types (libc++ as far as clang 3.4). Other vendor implementations
report incorrect values for certain types, such as pointer to members (msvc
14.0). This library provides it for those implementations and also for C++03
compilers where it is equally useful.

[heading Hinting alignment]

Allocating aligned memory is sometimes not enough to ensure that optimal code
is generated. Developers use specific compiler intrinsics to notify the
compiler of a given alignment property of a memory block. This library
provides a macro, `BOOST_ALIGN_ASSUME_ALIGNED`, to abstract that functionality
for compilers with the appropriate intrinsics.

[heading Checking alignment]

This library provides a function, `is_aligned` to test the alignment of a
pointer value. It is generally useful in assertions to validate that memory is
correctly aligned.

[endsect]

[section Examples]

[heading Aligned allocation]

To dynamically allocate storage with desired alignment, you can use the
`aligned_alloc` function:

[ordered_list
[`void* storage = boost::alignment::aligned_alloc(alignment, size);`]]

To deallocate storage allocated with the `aligned_alloc` function, use
the `aligned_free` function:

[ordered_list [`boost::alignment::aligned_free(storage);`]]

[heading Aligned allocator]

For C++ allocator aware code, you can use the `aligned_allocator` class
template for an allocator that respects over-alignment:

[ordered_list
[`std::vector<int128_t,
boost::alignment::aligned_allocator<int128_t> > vector;`]]

This template allows specifying minimum alignment for all dynamic allocations:

[ordered_list
[`std::vector<double,
boost::alignment::aligned_allocator<double, 64> > vector;`]]

[heading Aligned allocator adaptor]

To turn an allocator into an allocator that respects over-alignment, you can
use the `aligned_allocator_adaptor` class template:

[ordered_list
[`boost::alignment::aligned_allocator_adaptor<First> second(first);`]]

This template allows specifying minimum alignment for all dynamic
allocations:

[ordered_list
[`boost::alignment::aligned_allocator_adaptor<First, 64> second(first);`]]

[heading Aligned deleter]

For a deleter that can be paired with `aligned_alloc`, you can use the
`aligned_delete` class:

[ordered_list
[`std::unique_ptr<double, boost::alignment::aligned_delete> pointer;`]]

[heading Pointer alignment]

To advance a pointer to the next address with the desired alignment:

[ordered_list
[`void* pointer = storage;`]
[`std::size_t space = size;`]
[`void* result = boost::alignment::align(64, sizeof(double), pointer,
space);`]]

[heading Querying alignment]

To obtain the alignment of a given type at compie time, you can use:

[ordered_list [`boost::alignment::alignment_of<int128_t>::value`]]

If your compiler supports C++14 variable templates, you can also use:

[ordered_list [`boost::alignment::alignment_of_v<int128_t>`]]

[heading Hinting alignment]

To inform the compiler about the alignment of a pointer, you can use:

[ordered_list [`BOOST_ALIGN_ASSUME_ALIGNED(pointer, 64)`]]

[heading Checking alignment]

To check alignment of a pointer you can use the `is_aligned` function:

[ordered_list [`assert(boost::alignment::is_aligned(pointer, 64));`]]

[endsect]

[section Reference]

[section Functions]

[section align]

[variablelist
[[`void* align(std::size_t alignment, std::size_t size, void*& ptr,
std::size_t& space);`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/align.hpp>`]]
[[Effects]
[If it is possible to fit `size` bytes of storage aligned by `alignment` into
the buffer pointed to by `ptr` with length `space`, the function updates `ptr`
to point to the first possible address of such storage and decreases `space` by
the number of bytes used for alignment. Otherwise, the function does nothing.]]
[[Requires]
[[itemized_list
[`alignment` shall be a power of two]
[`ptr` shall point to contiguous storage of at least `space` bytes]]]]
[[Returns]
[A null pointer if the requested aligned buffer would not fit into the
available space, otherwise the adjusted value of `ptr`.]]
[[Note]
[The function updates its `ptr` and `space` arguments so that it can be called
repeatedly with possibly different `alignment` and `size`arguments for the same
buffer.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[section align_up]

[variablelist
[[`template<class T> constexpr T align_up(T value, std::size_t alignment)
noexcept;`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/align_up.hpp>`]]
[[Constraints][`T` is not a pointer type]]
[[Requires][`alignment` shall be a power of two]]
[[Returns][A value at or after `value` that is a multiple of `alignment`.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[section align_down]

[variablelist
[[`template<class T> constexpr T align_down(T value, std::size_t alignment)
noexcept;`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/align_down.hpp>`]]
[[Constraints][`T` is not a pointer type]]
[[Requires][`alignment` shall be a power of two]]
[[Returns]
[A value at or before `value` that is a multiple of `alignment`.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[section aligned_alloc]

[variablelist
[[`void* aligned_alloc(std::size_t alignment, std::size_t size);`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/aligned_alloc.hpp>`]]
[[Effects]
[Allocates space for an object whose alignment is specified by `alignment`,
whose size is specified by `size`, and whose value is indeterminate.]]
[[Requires][`alignment` shall be a power of two.]]
[[Returns][A null pointer or a pointer to the allocated space.]]
[[Note]
[On certain platforms, the space allocated may be slightly larger than
`size` bytes, to allow for alignment.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[section aligned_free]

[variablelist
[[`void aligned_free(void* ptr);`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/aligned_alloc.hpp>`]]
[[Effects]
[Causes the space pointed to by `ptr` to be deallocated, that is, made
available for further allocation. If `ptr` is a null pointer, no action occurs.
Otherwise, if the argument does not match a pointer earlier returned by the
`aligned_alloc()` function, or if the space has been deallocated by a call to
`aligned_free()`, the behavior is undefined.]]
[[Requires]
[`ptr` is a null pointer or a pointer earlier returned by the `aligned_alloc()`
function that has not been deallocated by a call to `aligned_free()`.]]
[[Returns][The `aligned_free()` function returns no value.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[section is_aligned]

[variablelist
[[`bool is_aligned(const volatile void* ptr, std::size_t alignment) noexcept;`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/is_aligned.hpp>`]]
[[Requires][`alignment` shall be a power of two.]]
[[Returns]
[`true` if `ptr` is aligned on the boundary specified by `alignment`, otherwise
`false`.]]]]]
[[`template<class T> constexpr bool is_aligned(T value, std::size_t alignment)
noexcept;`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/is_aligned.hpp>`]]
[[Constraints][`T` is not a pointer type]]
[[Requires][`alignment` shall be a power of two.]]
[[Returns]
[`true` if the value of `value` is aligned on the boundary specified by
`alignment`, otherwise `false`.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[endsect]

[section Classes]

[section aligned_allocator]

[variablelist
[[`template<class T, std::size_t Alignment = 1> class aligned_allocator;`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/aligned_allocator.hpp>`]]
[[Note]
[Using the aligned allocator with a minimum Alignment value is generally only
useful with containers that are not node-based such as `vector`. With
node-based containers, such as `list`, the node object would have the minimum
alignment instead of the value type object.]]]]]]

[heading Member types]

[ordered_list
[`typedef T value_type;`]
[`typedef T* pointer;`]
[`typedef const T* const_pointer;`]
[`typedef void* void_pointer;`]
[`typedef const void* const_void_pointer;`]
[`typedef std::add_lvalue_reference_t<T> reference;`]
[`typedef std::add_lvalue_reference_t<const T> const_reference;`]
[`typedef std::size_t size_type;`]
[`typedef std::ptrdiff_t difference_type;`]
[`typedef std::true_type propagate_on_container_move_assignment;`]
[`typedef std::true_type is_always_equal;`]
[`template<class U> struct rebind { typedef aligned_allocator<U, Alignment>
other; };`]]

[heading Constructors]

[variablelist
[[`aligned_allocator() = default;`]
[[variablelist [[Effects][Constructs the allocator.]]]]]
[[`template<class U> aligned_allocator(const aligned_allocator<U, Alignment>&)
noexcept;`]
[[variablelist [[Effects][Constructs the allocator.]]]]]]

[heading Member functions]

Except for the destructor, member functions of the aligned allocator shall not
introduce data races as a result of concurrent calls to those member functions
from different threads. Calls to these functions that allocate or deallocate a
particular unit of storage shall occur in a single total order, and each such
deallocation call shall happen before the next allocation (if any) in this
order.

[variablelist
[[`pointer allocate(size_type size, const_void_pointer = 0);`]
[[variablelist
[[Returns]
[A pointer to the initial element of an array of storage of size
`n * sizeof(T)`, aligned on the maximum of the minimum alignment specified and
the alignment of objects of type `T`.]]
[[Remark]
[The storage is obtained by calling `aligned_alloc(std::size_t,
std::size_t)`.]]
[[Throws][`std::bad_alloc` if the storage cannot be obtained.]]]]]
[[`void deallocate(pointer ptr, size_type);`]
[[variablelist
[[Requires]
[`ptr` shall be a pointer value obtained from `allocate()`.]]
[[Effects][Deallocates the storage referenced by `ptr`.]]
[[Remark][Uses `aligned_free(void*)`.]]]]]
[[`size_type max_size() const noexcept;`]
[[variablelist
[[Returns]
[The largest value `N` for which the call `allocate(N)` might succeed.]]]]]
[[`template<class U, class... Args> void construct(U* ptr, Args&&... args);`]
[[variablelist
[[Effects][`::new((void*)ptr) U(std::forward<Args>(args)...)`.]]]]]
[[`template<class U> void destroy(U* ptr);`]
[[variablelist [[Effects][`ptr->~U()`.]]]]]]

[heading Global operators]

[variablelist
[[`template<class T1, class T2, std::size_t Alignment> bool operator==(const
aligned_allocator<T1, Alignment>&, const aligned_allocator<T2, Alignment>&)
noexcept;`]
[[variablelist [[Returns][`true`]]]]]
[[`template<class T1, class T2, std::size_t Alignment> bool operator!=(const
aligned_allocator<T1, Alignment>&, const aligned_allocator<T2, Alignment>&)
noexcept;`]
[[variablelist [[Returns][`false`]]]]]]

[endsect]

[section aligned_allocator_adaptor]

[variablelist
[[`template<class Allocator, std::size_t Alignment = 1> class
aligned_allocator_adaptor;`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/aligned_allocator_adaptor.hpp>`]]
[[Note]
[This adaptor can be used with a C++11 Allocator whose pointer type is a smart
pointer but the adaptor can choose to expose only raw pointer types.]]]]]]

[heading Member types]

[ordered_list
[`typedef typename Allocator::value_type value_type;`]
[`typedef value_type* pointer;`]
[`typedef const value_type* const_pointer;`]
[`typedef void* void_pointer;`]
[`typedef const void* const_void_pointer;`]
[`typedef std::size_t size_type;`]
[`typedef std::ptrdiff_t difference_type;`]
[`template<class U> struct rebind { typedef aligned_allocator_adaptor<typename
std::allocator_traits<Allocator>::template rebind_alloc<U>, Alignment>
other; };`]]

[heading Constructors]

[variablelist
[[`aligned_allocator_adaptor() = default;`]
[[variablelist [[Effects][Value-initializes the `Allocator` base class.]]]]]
[[`template<class A> aligned_allocator_adaptor(A&& alloc) noexcept;`]
[[variablelist [[Requires][`Allocator` shall be constructible from `A`.]]
[[Effects]
[Initializes the `Allocator` base class with `std::forward<A>(alloc)`.]]]]]
[[`template<class U> aligned_allocator_adaptor(const
aligned_allocator_adaptor<U, Alignment>& other) noexcept;`]
[[variablelist
[[Requires][`Allocator` shall be constructible from `A`.]]
[[Effects][Initializes the `Allocator` base class with `other.base()`.]]]]]]

[heading Member functions]

[variablelist
[[`Allocator& base() noexcept;`]
[[variablelist [[Returns][`static_cast<Allocator&>(*this)`]]]]]
[[`const Allocator& base() const noexcept;`]
[[variablelist [[Returns][`static_cast<const Allocator&>(*this)`]]]]]
[[`pointer allocate(size_type size);`]
[[variablelist
[[Returns]
[A pointer to the initial element of an array of storage of size
`n * sizeof(value_type)`, aligned on the maximum of the minimum alignment
specified and the alignment of objects of type `value_type`.]]
[[Remark]
[The storage is obtained by calling `A2::allocate()` on an object `a2`, where
`a2` of type `A2` is a rebound copy of `base()` where its `value_type` is
implementation defined.]]
[[Throws]
[Throws an exception thrown from `A2::allocate()` if the storage cannot be
obtained.]]]]]
[[`pointer allocate(size_type size, const_void_pointer hint);`]
[[variablelist
[[Requires]
[`hint` is a value obtained by calling `allocate()` on any equivalent allocator
object, or else a null pointer.]]
[[Returns]
[A pointer to the initial element of an array of storage of size
`n * sizeof(value_type)`, aligned on the maximum of the minimum alignment
specified and the alignment of objects of type `value_type`.]]
[[Remark]
[The storage is obtained by calling `A2::allocate()` on an object `a2`, where
`a2` of type `A2` is a rebound copy of `base()` where its `value_type` is an
implementation defined.]]
[[Throws]
[Throws an exception thrown from `A2::allocate()` if the storage cannot be
obtained.]]]]]
[[`void deallocate(pointer ptr, size_type size);`]
[[variablelist
[[Requires]
[[itemized_list
[`ptr` shall be a pointer value obtained from `allocate()`]
[`size` shall equal the value passed as the first argument to the invocation of
`allocate()` which returned `ptr`.]]]]
[[Effects][Deallocates the storage referenced by `ptr`.]]
[[Note]
[Uses `A2::deallocate()` on an object `a2`, where `a2` of type `A2` is a
rebound copy of `base()` where its `value_type` is implementation
defined.]]]]]]

[heading Global operators]

[variablelist
[[`template<class A1, class A2, std::size_t Alignment> bool operator==(const
aligned_allocator_adaptor<A1, Alignment>& a1, const
aligned_allocator_adaptor<A2, Alignment>& a2) noexcept;`]
[[variablelist [[Returns][`a1.base() == a2.base()`]]]]]
[[`template<class A1, class A2, std::size_t Alignment> bool operator!=(const
aligned_allocator_adaptor<A1, Alignment>& a1, const
aligned_allocator_adaptor<A2, Alignment>& a2) noexcept;`]
[[variablelist [[Returns][`!(a1 == a2)`]]]]]]

[endsect]

[section aligned_delete]

[variablelist
[[`class aligned_delete;`]
[[variablelist [[Header][`#include <boost/align/aligned_delete.hpp>`]]]]]]

[heading Member operators]

[variablelist
[[`template<class T> void operator()(T* ptr) noexcept(noexcept(ptr->~T()));`]
[[variablelist
[[Effects]
[Calls `~T()` on `ptr` to destroy the object and then calls `aligned_free()` on
`ptr` to free the allocated memory.]]
[[Note][If `T` is an incomplete type, the program is ill-formed.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[endsect]

[section Traits]

[section alignment_of]

[variablelist
[[`template<class T> struct alignment_of;`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/alignment_of.hpp>`]]
[[Value]
[The alignment requirement of the type `T` as an integral constant of type
`std::size_t`. When `T` is a reference array type, the value shall be the
alignment of the referenced type. When `T` is an array type, the value shall be
the alignment of the element type.]]
[[Requires]
[`T` shall be a complete object type, or an array thereof, or a reference to
one of those types.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[endsect]

[section Macros]

[section BOOST_ALIGN_ASSUME_ALIGNED]

[variablelist
[[`BOOST_ALIGN_ASSUME_ALIGNED(ptr, alignment)`]
[[variablelist
[[Header][`#include <boost/align/assume_aligned.hpp>`]]
[[Requires]
[[itemized_list [`alignment` shall be a power of two]
[`ptr` shall be mutable]]]]
[[Effects]
[`ptr` may be modified in an implementation specific way to inform the compiler
of its alignment.]]]]]]

[endsect]

[endsect]

[endsect]

[section Vocabulary]

[heading \[basic.align\]]

Object types have /alignment requirements/ which place restrictions on the
addresses at which an object of that type may be allocated. An /alignment/ is
an implementation-defined integer value representing the number of bytes
between successive addresses at which a given object can be allocated. An
object type imposes an alignment requirement on every object of that type;
stricter alignment can be requested using the alignment specifier.

A /fundamental alignment/ is represented by an alignment less than or equal to
the greatest alignment supported by the implementation in all contexts, which
is equal to `alignof(std::max_align_t)`. The alignment required for a type
might be different when it is used as the type of a complete object and when
it is used as the type of a subobject.
\[['Example:]
[ordered_list
[`struct B { long double d; };`]
[`struct D : virtual B { char c; };`]]
When `D` is the type of a complete object, it will have a subobject of type
`B`, so it must be aligned appropriately for a `long double`. If `D` appears
as a subobject of another object that also has `B` as a virtual base class,
the `B` subobject might be part of a different subobject, reducing the
alignment requirements on the `D` subobject. \u2014['end example]\] The result
of the `alignof` operator reflects the alignment requirement of the type in
the complete-object case.

An /extended alignment/ is represented by an alignment greater than
`alignof(std::max_align_t)`. It is implementation-defined whether any extended
alignments are supported and the contexts in which they are supported. A type
having an extended alignment requirement is an /over-aligned type/. \[['Note:]
Every over-aligned type is or contains a class type to which extended
alignment applies (possibly through a non-static data member). \u2014['end
note]\]

Alignments are represented as values of the type `std::size_t`. Valid
alignments include only those values returned by an `alignof` expression for
the fundamental types plus an additional implementation-defined set of values,
which may be empty. Every alignment value shall be a non-negative integral
power of two.

Alignments have an order from /weaker/ to /stronger/ or /stricter/ alignments.
Stricter alignments have larger alignment values. An address that satisfies an
alignment requirement also satisfies any weaker valid alignment requirement.

The alignment requirement of a complete type can be queried using an `alignof`
expression. Furthermore, the types `char`, `signed char`, and `unsigned char`
shall have the weakest alignment requirement. \[['Note:] This enables the
character types to be used as the underlying type for an aligned memory area.
\u2014['end note]\]

Comparing alignments is meaningful and provides the obvious results:

* Two alignments are equal when their numeric values are equal.
* Two alignments are different when their numeric values are not equal.
* When an alignment is larger than another it represents a stricter
  alignment.

\[['Note:] The runtime pointer alignment function can be used to obtain an
aligned pointer within a buffer; the aligned-storage templates in the library
can be used to obtain aligned storage. \u2014['end note]\]

If a request for a specific extended alignment in a specific context is not
supported by an implementation, the program is ill-formed. Additionally, a
request for runtime allocation of dynamic storage for which the requested
alignment cannot be honored shall be treated as an allocation failure.

[endsect]

[section Compatibility]

This library has been tested with the following C++ implementations:

[variablelist
[[Compilers][gcc, clang, msvc, intel]]
[[Libraries][libstdc++, libc++, dinkumware]]
[[Systems][linux, windows, osx]]
[[Platforms][x64, x86, arm]]
[[Standards][c++98, c++03, c++11, c++14, c++17]]]

[endsect]

[section Acknowledgments]

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the design, code, examples, tests, or
documentation, including:

* Peter Dimov
* Andrey Semashev
* Bjorn Reese
* Steven Watanabe
* Antony Polukhin
* Lars Viklund
* Michael Spencer
* Paul A. Bristow

Thank you to Ahmed Charles for serving as the review manager for the formal
review of the library.

[endsect]

[section History]

[variablelist
[[Boost 1.61]
[Functions for aligning up, down, and testing alignment of integral values.]]
[[Boost 1.59]
[Joel Falcou and Charly Chevalier contributed the alignment hint macro.]]
[[Boost 1.56]
[Glen Fernandes implemented and contributed the Align library to Boost.]]]

[endsect]