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A standard-layout class is a class that:
  — has no non-static data members of type non-standard-layout class (or array of such types) or reference,
  — has no virtual functions and no virtual base classes,
  — has the same access control for all non-static data members,
  — has no non-standard-layout base classes,
  — either has no non-static data members in the most derived class and at most one base class with non-static data members, or has no base classes with non-static data members, and
  — has no base classes of the same type as the first non-static data member.

Do not use std::memset() to initialize an object of nontrivial class type as it may not properly initialize the value representation of the object. Do not use std::memcpy() (or related bytewise copy functions) to initialize a copy of an object of nontrivial class type, as it may not properly initialize the value representation of the copy. Do not use std::memcmp() (or related bytewise comparison functions) to compare objects of nonstandard-layout class type, as it may not properly compare the value representations of the objects. In all cases, it is best to prefer the alternatives.

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Most violations of this rule will result in abnormal program behavior. However, overwriting implementation details of the object representation can lead to code execution vulnerabilities.

Automated Detection

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Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.

Related Guidelines

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