When checking for integer overflow, you may often write tests like p + i < p. This works fine if p and i are unsigned integers, since any overflow in the addition will cause the value to simply "wrap around." However, using this pattern when p is a pointer is problematic because pointer overflow has undefined behavior according to the C and C++ standards. If the addition overflows and has an undefined result, the comparison will likewise be undefined; it may produce an unintended result, or may be deleted entirely by an optimizing compiler.
TianlongLiang
commented
3 weeks ago
When checking for integer overflow, you may often write tests like p + i < p. This works fine if p and i are unsigned integers, since any overflow in the addition will cause the value to simply "wrap around." However, using this pattern when p is a pointer is problematic because pointer overflow has undefined behavior according to the C and C++ standards. If the addition overflows and has an undefined result, the comparison will likewise be undefined; it may produce an unintended result, or may be deleted entirely by an optimizing compiler.