From: Sam James <sam@gentoo.org>
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2025 02:40:58 +0000 (+0100)
Subject: doc: type-punning through a union is a GNU extension for C++
X-Git-Url: http://git.ipfire.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?a=commitdiff_plain;h=b52a90e7a03fef3c237a78c91dcad37237338d1b;p=thirdparty%2Fgcc.git

doc: type-punning through a union is a GNU extension for C++

We didn't explicitly say that type-punning through a union is undefined
behavior in C++. Mention that, and that we support it as a GNU extension.

This was reported on LLVM's Discourse (forums) [0].

[0] https://discourse.llvm.org/t/ub-when-type-punning-through-unions/88527/6

gcc/ChangeLog:
	PR c++/117219

	* doc/invoke.texi (-fstrict-aliasing): Explain that type-punning
	through a union in C++ is supported as a GNU extension.
---

diff --git a/gcc/doc/invoke.texi b/gcc/doc/invoke.texi
index 41ce025350e..c0d1442f7b1 100644
--- a/gcc/doc/invoke.texi
+++ b/gcc/doc/invoke.texi
@@ -15049,10 +15049,11 @@ int f() @{
 @end smallexample
 The practice of reading from a different union member than the one most
 recently written to (called ``type-punning'') is common.  Even with
-@option{-fstrict-aliasing}, type-punning is allowed, provided the memory
-is accessed through the union type.  So, the code above works as
-expected.  @xref{Structures unions enumerations and bit-fields
-implementation}.  However, this code might not:
+@option{-fstrict-aliasing}, type-punning is allowed in C, provided the memory
+is accessed through the union type.  In ISO C++, type-punning through a union
+type is undefined behavior, but GCC supports it as an extension. So, the code
+above works as expected.  @xref{Structures unions enumerations and
+bit-fields implementation}.  However, this code might not:
 @smallexample
 int f() @{
   union a_union t;