MISRA.FUNC.ARRAY.PARAMS

Function argument with array type decay to a pointer.

MISRA-C++ Rule 5-2-12 (required): An identifier with array type passed as a function argument shall not decay to a pointer.

Rationale

When a variable with array type decays to a pointer, its bounds are lost.

If a design requires arrays of different lengths, then a class should be used to encapsulate the array objects and so ensure that the dimensionality is maintained.

Example

void f1( int32_t p[ 10 ] );
void f2( int32_t *p );
void f3( int32_t ( &p )[ 10 ] );

void b ()
{
   int32_t a[ 10 ];
   f1( a );      // Non-compliant - Dimension "10" lost due to array to
                 // pointer conversion.
   f2( a );      // Non-compliant - Dimension "10" lost due to array to
                 // pointer conversion.
   f3( a );      // Compliant - Dimension preserved.
}