c++ how does friend function differs in memory location?

Question

I am trying to understand how defining a function as a friend function impact its placement in memory (RAM).

For example, each class has a table of all of its methods and functions. Also, virtual functions are placed in the vtable.

Where does friend functions belong?

The reason I'm concerned, is due to a [recursion] function that has been invoked a large number of times via multiple threads in my c++ code, and eventually I'm getting "v'table corruption runtime exception". which is a sign of memory corruption (as I saw here for example).

Also, when declaring this function as a regular outside-of-class function, the exception persists.

When declaring that function to be friend however (it's a bad design, but for the sake of experiment), that exception no longer pops-up.

Therefor my question about friend functions' memory location.

*"each class has a table of all of its methods and functions"* - You say that based on what? There is no mention of it in the C++ standard. — StoryTeller - Unslander Monica, Jun 29 '17 at 11:50
Friend function is **not** a member function of the befriended class — W.F., Jun 29 '17 at 11:51
*For example, each class has a table of all of its methods and functions.* Hmm, no. There's a vtable for virtual ones, but that's it. — Borgleader, Jun 29 '17 at 11:54

score 8 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 29 '17 at 11:54

8

friend has nothing to do with where a compiler, linker or runtime loader puts the function, it's just a keyword that tells the compiler that the function can sidestep the visibility rules of the class.

Even if a friend function is defined inline in a class it's still considered a global non-member function.

edited Jun 29 '17 at 11:54

NathanOliver

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answered Jun 29 '17 at 11:52

Some programmer dude

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c++ how does friend function differs in memory location?

1 Answers1