..
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
  NOTE: This file is automatically generated by running clang-tblgen
  -gen-attr-docs. Do not edit this file by hand!!
  -------------------------------------------------------------------

===================
Attributes in Clang
===================
.. contents::
   :local:

Introduction
============

This page lists the attributes currently supported by Clang.

Function Attributes
===================


interrupt
---------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Clang supports the GNU style ``__attribute__((interrupt("TYPE")))`` attribute on
ARM targets. This attribute may be attached to a function definition and
instructs the backend to generate appropriate function entry/exit code so that
it can be used directly as an interrupt service routine.

The parameter passed to the interrupt attribute is optional, but if
provided it must be a string literal with one of the following values: "IRQ",
"FIQ", "SWI", "ABORT", "UNDEF".

The semantics are as follows:

- If the function is AAPCS, Clang instructs the backend to realign the stack to
  8 bytes on entry. This is a general requirement of the AAPCS at public
  interfaces, but may not hold when an exception is taken. Doing this allows
  other AAPCS functions to be called.
- If the CPU is M-class this is all that needs to be done since the architecture
  itself is designed in such a way that functions obeying the normal AAPCS ABI
  constraints are valid exception handlers.
- If the CPU is not M-class, the prologue and epilogue are modified to save all
  non-banked registers that are used, so that upon return the user-mode state
  will not be corrupted. Note that to avoid unnecessary overhead, only
  general-purpose (integer) registers are saved in this way. If VFP operations
  are needed, that state must be saved manually.

  Specifically, interrupt kinds other than "FIQ" will save all core registers
  except "lr" and "sp". "FIQ" interrupts will save r0-r7.
- If the CPU is not M-class, the return instruction is changed to one of the
  canonical sequences permitted by the architecture for exception return. Where
  possible the function itself will make the necessary "lr" adjustments so that
  the "preferred return address" is selected.

  Unfortunately the compiler is unable to make this guarantee for an "UNDEF"
  handler, where the offset from "lr" to the preferred return address depends on
  the execution state of the code which generated the exception. In this case
  a sequence equivalent to "movs pc, lr" will be used.


acquire_capability (acquire_shared_capability, clang::acquire_capability, clang::acquire_shared_capability)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

Marks a function as acquiring a capability.


assert_capability (assert_shared_capability, clang::assert_capability, clang::assert_shared_capability)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

Marks a function that dynamically tests whether a capability is held, and halts
the program if it is not held.


assume_aligned (gnu::assume_aligned)
------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

Use ``__attribute__((assume_aligned(<alignment>[,<offset>]))`` on a function
declaration to specify that the return value of the function (which must be a
pointer type) has the specified offset, in bytes, from an address with the
specified alignment. The offset is taken to be zero if omitted.

.. code-block:: c++

  // The returned pointer value has 32-byte alignment.
  void *a() __attribute__((assume_aligned (32)));

  // The returned pointer value is 4 bytes greater than an address having
  // 32-byte alignment.
  void *b() __attribute__((assume_aligned (32, 4)));

Note that this attribute provides information to the compiler regarding a
condition that the code already ensures is true. It does not cause the compiler
to enforce the provided alignment assumption.


availability
------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

The ``availability`` attribute can be placed on declarations to describe the
lifecycle of that declaration relative to operating system versions.  Consider
the function declaration for a hypothetical function ``f``:

.. code-block:: c++

  void f(void) __attribute__((availability(macosx,introduced=10.4,deprecated=10.6,obsoleted=10.7)));

The availability attribute states that ``f`` was introduced in Mac OS X 10.4,
deprecated in Mac OS X 10.6, and obsoleted in Mac OS X 10.7.  This information
is used by Clang to determine when it is safe to use ``f``: for example, if
Clang is instructed to compile code for Mac OS X 10.5, a call to ``f()``
succeeds.  If Clang is instructed to compile code for Mac OS X 10.6, the call
succeeds but Clang emits a warning specifying that the function is deprecated.
Finally, if Clang is instructed to compile code for Mac OS X 10.7, the call
fails because ``f()`` is no longer available.

The availability attribute is a comma-separated list starting with the
platform name and then including clauses specifying important milestones in the
declaration's lifetime (in any order) along with additional information.  Those
clauses can be:

introduced=\ *version*
  The first version in which this declaration was introduced.

deprecated=\ *version*
  The first version in which this declaration was deprecated, meaning that
  users should migrate away from this API.

obsoleted=\ *version*
  The first version in which this declaration was obsoleted, meaning that it
  was removed completely and can no longer be used.

unavailable
  This declaration is never available on this platform.

message=\ *string-literal*
  Additional message text that Clang will provide when emitting a warning or
  error about use of a deprecated or obsoleted declaration.  Useful to direct
  users to replacement APIs.

Multiple availability attributes can be placed on a declaration, which may
correspond to different platforms.  Only the availability attribute with the
platform corresponding to the target platform will be used; any others will be
ignored.  If no availability attribute specifies availability for the current
target platform, the availability attributes are ignored.  Supported platforms
are:

``ios``
  Apple's iOS operating system.  The minimum deployment target is specified by
  the ``-mios-version-min=*version*`` or ``-miphoneos-version-min=*version*``
  command-line arguments.

``macosx``
  Apple's Mac OS X operating system.  The minimum deployment target is
  specified by the ``-mmacosx-version-min=*version*`` command-line argument.

``tvos``
  Apple's tvOS operating system.  The minimum deployment target is specified by
  the ``-mtvos-version-min=*version*`` command-line argument.

``watchos``
  Apple's watchOS operating system.  The minimum deployment target is specified by
  the ``-mwatchos-version-min=*version*`` command-line argument.

A declaration can be used even when deploying back to a platform version prior
to when the declaration was introduced.  When this happens, the declaration is
`weakly linked
<https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPFrameworks/Concepts/WeakLinking.html>`_,
as if the ``weak_import`` attribute were added to the declaration.  A
weakly-linked declaration may or may not be present a run-time, and a program
can determine whether the declaration is present by checking whether the
address of that declaration is non-NULL.

If there are multiple declarations of the same entity, the availability
attributes must either match on a per-platform basis or later
declarations must not have availability attributes for that
platform. For example:

.. code-block:: c

  void g(void) __attribute__((availability(macosx,introduced=10.4)));
  void g(void) __attribute__((availability(macosx,introduced=10.4))); // okay, matches
  void g(void) __attribute__((availability(ios,introduced=4.0))); // okay, adds a new platform
  void g(void); // okay, inherits both macosx and ios availability from above.
  void g(void) __attribute__((availability(macosx,introduced=10.5))); // error: mismatch

When one method overrides another, the overriding method can be more widely available than the overridden method, e.g.,:

.. code-block:: objc

  @interface A
  - (id)method __attribute__((availability(macosx,introduced=10.4)));
  - (id)method2 __attribute__((availability(macosx,introduced=10.4)));
  @end

  @interface B : A
  - (id)method __attribute__((availability(macosx,introduced=10.3))); // okay: method moved into base class later
  - (id)method __attribute__((availability(macosx,introduced=10.5))); // error: this method was available via the base class in 10.4
  @end


_Noreturn
---------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

A function declared as ``_Noreturn`` shall not return to its caller. The
compiler will generate a diagnostic for a function declared as ``_Noreturn``
that appears to be capable of returning to its caller.


noreturn
--------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","X","","", ""

A function declared as ``[[noreturn]]`` shall not return to its caller. The
compiler will generate a diagnostic for a function declared as ``[[noreturn]]``
that appears to be capable of returning to its caller.


carries_dependency
------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``carries_dependency`` attribute specifies dependency propagation into and
out of functions.

When specified on a function or Objective-C method, the ``carries_dependency``
attribute means that the return value carries a dependency out of the function, 
so that the implementation need not constrain ordering upon return from that
function. Implementations of the function and its caller may choose to preserve
dependencies instead of emitting memory ordering instructions such as fences.

Note, this attribute does not change the meaning of the program, but may result
in generation of more efficient code.


disable_tail_calls (clang::disable_tail_calls)
----------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``disable_tail_calls`` attribute instructs the backend to not perform tail call optimization inside the marked function.

For example:

  .. code-block:: c

    int callee(int);

    int foo(int a) __attribute__((disable_tail_calls)) {
      return callee(a); // This call is not tail-call optimized.
    }

Marking virtual functions as ``disable_tail_calls`` is legal.

  .. code-block: c++

    int callee(int);

    class Base {
    public:
      [[clang::disable_tail_calls]] virtual int foo1() {
        return callee(); // This call is not tail-call optimized.
      }
    };

    class Derived1 : public Base {
    public:
      int foo1() override {
        return callee(); // This call is tail-call optimized.
      }
    };


enable_if
---------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

.. Note:: Some features of this attribute are experimental. The meaning of
  multiple enable_if attributes on a single declaration is subject to change in
  a future version of clang. Also, the ABI is not standardized and the name
  mangling may change in future versions. To avoid that, use asm labels.

The ``enable_if`` attribute can be placed on function declarations to control
which overload is selected based on the values of the function's arguments.
When combined with the ``overloadable`` attribute, this feature is also
available in C.

.. code-block:: c++

  int isdigit(int c);
  int isdigit(int c) __attribute__((enable_if(c <= -1 || c > 255, "chosen when 'c' is out of range"))) __attribute__((unavailable("'c' must have the value of an unsigned char or EOF")));
  
  void foo(char c) {
    isdigit(c);
    isdigit(10);
    isdigit(-10);  // results in a compile-time error.
  }

The enable_if attribute takes two arguments, the first is an expression written
in terms of the function parameters, the second is a string explaining why this
overload candidate could not be selected to be displayed in diagnostics. The
expression is part of the function signature for the purposes of determining
whether it is a redeclaration (following the rules used when determining
whether a C++ template specialization is ODR-equivalent), but is not part of
the type.

The enable_if expression is evaluated as if it were the body of a
bool-returning constexpr function declared with the arguments of the function
it is being applied to, then called with the parameters at the call site. If the
result is false or could not be determined through constant expression
evaluation, then this overload will not be chosen and the provided string may
be used in a diagnostic if the compile fails as a result.

Because the enable_if expression is an unevaluated context, there are no global
state changes, nor the ability to pass information from the enable_if
expression to the function body. For example, suppose we want calls to
strnlen(strbuf, maxlen) to resolve to strnlen_chk(strbuf, maxlen, size of
strbuf) only if the size of strbuf can be determined:

.. code-block:: c++

  __attribute__((always_inline))
  static inline size_t strnlen(const char *s, size_t maxlen)
    __attribute__((overloadable))
    __attribute__((enable_if(__builtin_object_size(s, 0) != -1))),
                             "chosen when the buffer size is known but 'maxlen' is not")))
  {
    return strnlen_chk(s, maxlen, __builtin_object_size(s, 0));
  }

Multiple enable_if attributes may be applied to a single declaration. In this
case, the enable_if expressions are evaluated from left to right in the
following manner. First, the candidates whose enable_if expressions evaluate to
false or cannot be evaluated are discarded. If the remaining candidates do not
share ODR-equivalent enable_if expressions, the overload resolution is
ambiguous. Otherwise, enable_if overload resolution continues with the next
enable_if attribute on the candidates that have not been discarded and have
remaining enable_if attributes. In this way, we pick the most specific
overload out of a number of viable overloads using enable_if.

.. code-block:: c++

  void f() __attribute__((enable_if(true, "")));  // #1
  void f() __attribute__((enable_if(true, ""))) __attribute__((enable_if(true, "")));  // #2
  
  void g(int i, int j) __attribute__((enable_if(i, "")));  // #1
  void g(int i, int j) __attribute__((enable_if(j, ""))) __attribute__((enable_if(true)));  // #2

In this example, a call to f() is always resolved to #2, as the first enable_if
expression is ODR-equivalent for both declarations, but #1 does not have another
enable_if expression to continue evaluating, so the next round of evaluation has
only a single candidate. In a call to g(1, 1), the call is ambiguous even though
#2 has more enable_if attributes, because the first enable_if expressions are
not ODR-equivalent.

Query for this feature with ``__has_attribute(enable_if)``.


flatten (gnu::flatten)
----------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``flatten`` attribute causes calls within the attributed function to
be inlined unless it is impossible to do so, for example if the body of the
callee is unavailable or if the callee has the ``noinline`` attribute.


format (gnu::format)
--------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

Clang supports the ``format`` attribute, which indicates that the function
accepts a ``printf`` or ``scanf``-like format string and corresponding
arguments or a ``va_list`` that contains these arguments.

Please see `GCC documentation about format attribute
<http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Function-Attributes.html>`_ to find details
about attribute syntax.

Clang implements two kinds of checks with this attribute.

#. Clang checks that the function with the ``format`` attribute is called with
   a format string that uses format specifiers that are allowed, and that
   arguments match the format string.  This is the ``-Wformat`` warning, it is
   on by default.

#. Clang checks that the format string argument is a literal string.  This is
   the ``-Wformat-nonliteral`` warning, it is off by default.

   Clang implements this mostly the same way as GCC, but there is a difference
   for functions that accept a ``va_list`` argument (for example, ``vprintf``).
   GCC does not emit ``-Wformat-nonliteral`` warning for calls to such
   functions.  Clang does not warn if the format string comes from a function
   parameter, where the function is annotated with a compatible attribute,
   otherwise it warns.  For example:

   .. code-block:: c

     __attribute__((__format__ (__scanf__, 1, 3)))
     void foo(const char* s, char *buf, ...) {
       va_list ap;
       va_start(ap, buf);

       vprintf(s, ap); // warning: format string is not a string literal
     }

   In this case we warn because ``s`` contains a format string for a
   ``scanf``-like function, but it is passed to a ``printf``-like function.

   If the attribute is removed, clang still warns, because the format string is
   not a string literal.

   Another example:

   .. code-block:: c

     __attribute__((__format__ (__printf__, 1, 3)))
     void foo(const char* s, char *buf, ...) {
       va_list ap;
       va_start(ap, buf);

       vprintf(s, ap); // warning
     }

   In this case Clang does not warn because the format string ``s`` and
   the corresponding arguments are annotated.  If the arguments are
   incorrect, the caller of ``foo`` will receive a warning.


internal_linkage (clang::internal_linkage)
------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``internal_linkage`` attribute changes the linkage type of the declaration to internal.
This is similar to C-style ``static``, but can be used on classes and class methods. When applied to a class definition,
this attribute affects all methods and static data members of that class.
This can be used to contain the ABI of a C++ library by excluding unwanted class methods from the export tables.


interrupt
---------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Clang supports the GNU style ``__attribute__((interrupt("ARGUMENT")))`` attribute on
MIPS targets. This attribute may be attached to a function definition and instructs
the backend to generate appropriate function entry/exit code so that it can be used
directly as an interrupt service routine.

By default, the compiler will produce a function prologue and epilogue suitable for
an interrupt service routine that handles an External Interrupt Controller (eic)
generated interrupt. This behaviour can be explicitly requested with the "eic"
argument.

Otherwise, for use with vectored interrupt mode, the argument passed should be
of the form "vector=LEVEL" where LEVEL is one of the following values:
"sw0", "sw1", "hw0", "hw1", "hw2", "hw3", "hw4", "hw5". The compiler will
then set the interrupt mask to the corresponding level which will mask all
interrupts up to and including the argument.

The semantics are as follows:

- The prologue is modified so that the Exception Program Counter (EPC) and
  Status coprocessor registers are saved to the stack. The interrupt mask is
  set so that the function can only be interrupted by a higher priority
  interrupt. The epilogue will restore the previous values of EPC and Status.

- The prologue and epilogue are modified to save and restore all non-kernel
  registers as necessary.

- The FPU is disabled in the prologue, as the floating pointer registers are not
  spilled to the stack.

- The function return sequence is changed to use an exception return instruction.

- The parameter sets the interrupt mask for the function corresponding to the
  interrupt level specified. If no mask is specified the interrupt mask
  defaults to "eic".


noalias
-------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","X","", ""

The ``noalias`` attribute indicates that the only memory accesses inside
function are loads and stores from objects pointed to by its pointer-typed
arguments, with arbitrary offsets.


noduplicate (clang::noduplicate)
--------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``noduplicate`` attribute can be placed on function declarations to control
whether function calls to this function can be duplicated or not as a result of
optimizations. This is required for the implementation of functions with
certain special requirements, like the OpenCL "barrier" function, that might
need to be run concurrently by all the threads that are executing in lockstep
on the hardware. For example this attribute applied on the function
"nodupfunc" in the code below avoids that:

.. code-block:: c

  void nodupfunc() __attribute__((noduplicate));
  // Setting it as a C++11 attribute is also valid
  // void nodupfunc() [[clang::noduplicate]];
  void foo();
  void bar();

  nodupfunc();
  if (a > n) {
    foo();
  } else {
    bar();
  }

gets possibly modified by some optimizations into code similar to this:

.. code-block:: c

  if (a > n) {
    nodupfunc();
    foo();
  } else {
    nodupfunc();
    bar();
  }

where the call to "nodupfunc" is duplicated and sunk into the two branches
of the condition.


no_sanitize (clang::no_sanitize)
--------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

Use the ``no_sanitize`` attribute on a function declaration to specify
that a particular instrumentation or set of instrumentations should not be
applied to that function. The attribute takes a list of string literals,
which have the same meaning as values accepted by the ``-fno-sanitize=``
flag. For example, ``__attribute__((no_sanitize("address", "thread")))``
specifies that AddressSanitizer and ThreadSanitizer should not be applied
to the function.

See :ref:`Controlling Code Generation <controlling-code-generation>` for a
full list of supported sanitizer flags.


no_sanitize_address (no_address_safety_analysis, gnu::no_address_safety_analysis, gnu::no_sanitize_address)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

.. _langext-address_sanitizer:

Use ``__attribute__((no_sanitize_address))`` on a function declaration to
specify that address safety instrumentation (e.g. AddressSanitizer) should
not be applied to that function.


no_sanitize_thread
------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

.. _langext-thread_sanitizer:

Use ``__attribute__((no_sanitize_thread))`` on a function declaration to
specify that checks for data races on plain (non-atomic) memory accesses should
not be inserted by ThreadSanitizer. The function is still instrumented by the
tool to avoid false positives and provide meaningful stack traces.


no_sanitize_memory
------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

.. _langext-memory_sanitizer:

Use ``__attribute__((no_sanitize_memory))`` on a function declaration to
specify that checks for uninitialized memory should not be inserted 
(e.g. by MemorySanitizer). The function may still be instrumented by the tool
to avoid false positives in other places.


no_split_stack (gnu::no_split_stack)
------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``no_split_stack`` attribute disables the emission of the split stack
preamble for a particular function. It has no effect if ``-fsplit-stack``
is not specified.


not_tail_called (clang::not_tail_called)
----------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``not_tail_called`` attribute prevents tail-call optimization on statically bound calls. It has no effect on indirect calls. Virtual functions, objective-c methods, and functions marked as ``always_inline`` cannot be marked as ``not_tail_called``.

For example, it prevents tail-call optimization in the following case:

  .. code-block: c

    int __attribute__((not_tail_called)) foo1(int);

    int foo2(int a) {
      return foo1(a); // No tail-call optimization on direct calls.
    }

However, it doesn't prevent tail-call optimization in this case:

  .. code-block: c

    int __attribute__((not_tail_called)) foo1(int);

    int foo2(int a) {
      int (*fn)(int) = &foo1;

      // not_tail_called has no effect on an indirect call even if the call can be
      // resolved at compile time.
      return (*fn)(a);
    }

Marking virtual functions as ``not_tail_called`` is an error:

  .. code-block: c++

    class Base {
    public:
      // not_tail_called on a virtual function is an error.
      [[clang::not_tail_called]] virtual int foo1();

      virtual int foo2();

      // Non-virtual functions can be marked ``not_tail_called``.
      [[clang::not_tail_called]] int foo3();
    };

    class Derived1 : public Base {
    public:
      int foo1() override;

      // not_tail_called on a virtual function is an error.
      [[clang::not_tail_called]] int foo2() override;
    };


objc_boxable
------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Structs and unions marked with the ``objc_boxable`` attribute can be used 
with the Objective-C boxed expression syntax, ``@(...)``.

**Usage**: ``__attribute__((objc_boxable))``. This attribute 
can only be placed on a declaration of a trivially-copyable struct or union:

.. code-block:: objc

  struct __attribute__((objc_boxable)) some_struct {
    int i;
  };
  union __attribute__((objc_boxable)) some_union {
    int i;
    float f;
  };
  typedef struct __attribute__((objc_boxable)) _some_struct some_struct;

  // ...

  some_struct ss;
  NSValue *boxed = @(ss);


objc_method_family
------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Many methods in Objective-C have conventional meanings determined by their
selectors. It is sometimes useful to be able to mark a method as having a
particular conventional meaning despite not having the right selector, or as
not having the conventional meaning that its selector would suggest. For these
use cases, we provide an attribute to specifically describe the "method family"
that a method belongs to.

**Usage**: ``__attribute__((objc_method_family(X)))``, where ``X`` is one of
``none``, ``alloc``, ``copy``, ``init``, ``mutableCopy``, or ``new``.  This
attribute can only be placed at the end of a method declaration:

.. code-block:: objc

  - (NSString *)initMyStringValue __attribute__((objc_method_family(none)));

Users who do not wish to change the conventional meaning of a method, and who
merely want to document its non-standard retain and release semantics, should
use the retaining behavior attributes (``ns_returns_retained``,
``ns_returns_not_retained``, etc).

Query for this feature with ``__has_attribute(objc_method_family)``.


objc_requires_super
-------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Some Objective-C classes allow a subclass to override a particular method in a
parent class but expect that the overriding method also calls the overridden
method in the parent class. For these cases, we provide an attribute to
designate that a method requires a "call to ``super``" in the overriding
method in the subclass.

**Usage**: ``__attribute__((objc_requires_super))``.  This attribute can only
be placed at the end of a method declaration:

.. code-block:: objc

  - (void)foo __attribute__((objc_requires_super));

This attribute can only be applied the method declarations within a class, and
not a protocol.  Currently this attribute does not enforce any placement of
where the call occurs in the overriding method (such as in the case of
``-dealloc`` where the call must appear at the end).  It checks only that it
exists.

Note that on both OS X and iOS that the Foundation framework provides a
convenience macro ``NS_REQUIRES_SUPER`` that provides syntactic sugar for this
attribute:

.. code-block:: objc

  - (void)foo NS_REQUIRES_SUPER;

This macro is conditionally defined depending on the compiler's support for
this attribute.  If the compiler does not support the attribute the macro
expands to nothing.

Operationally, when a method has this annotation the compiler will warn if the
implementation of an override in a subclass does not call super.  For example:

.. code-block:: objc

   warning: method possibly missing a [super AnnotMeth] call
   - (void) AnnotMeth{};
                      ^


objc_runtime_name
-----------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

By default, the Objective-C interface or protocol identifier is used
in the metadata name for that object. The `objc_runtime_name`
attribute allows annotated interfaces or protocols to use the
specified string argument in the object's metadata name instead of the
default name.
        
**Usage**: ``__attribute__((objc_runtime_name("MyLocalName")))``.  This attribute
can only be placed before an @protocol or @interface declaration:
        
.. code-block:: objc
        
  __attribute__((objc_runtime_name("MyLocalName")))
  @interface Message
  @end


optnone (clang::optnone)
------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``optnone`` attribute suppresses essentially all optimizations
on a function or method, regardless of the optimization level applied to
the compilation unit as a whole.  This is particularly useful when you
need to debug a particular function, but it is infeasible to build the
entire application without optimization.  Avoiding optimization on the
specified function can improve the quality of the debugging information
for that function.

This attribute is incompatible with the ``always_inline`` and ``minsize``
attributes.


overloadable
------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Clang provides support for C++ function overloading in C.  Function overloading
in C is introduced using the ``overloadable`` attribute.  For example, one
might provide several overloaded versions of a ``tgsin`` function that invokes
the appropriate standard function computing the sine of a value with ``float``,
``double``, or ``long double`` precision:

.. code-block:: c

  #include <math.h>
  float __attribute__((overloadable)) tgsin(float x) { return sinf(x); }
  double __attribute__((overloadable)) tgsin(double x) { return sin(x); }
  long double __attribute__((overloadable)) tgsin(long double x) { return sinl(x); }

Given these declarations, one can call ``tgsin`` with a ``float`` value to
receive a ``float`` result, with a ``double`` to receive a ``double`` result,
etc.  Function overloading in C follows the rules of C++ function overloading
to pick the best overload given the call arguments, with a few C-specific
semantics:

* Conversion from ``float`` or ``double`` to ``long double`` is ranked as a
  floating-point promotion (per C99) rather than as a floating-point conversion
  (as in C++).

* A conversion from a pointer of type ``T*`` to a pointer of type ``U*`` is
  considered a pointer conversion (with conversion rank) if ``T`` and ``U`` are
  compatible types.

* A conversion from type ``T`` to a value of type ``U`` is permitted if ``T``
  and ``U`` are compatible types.  This conversion is given "conversion" rank.

The declaration of ``overloadable`` functions is restricted to function
declarations and definitions.  Most importantly, if any function with a given
name is given the ``overloadable`` attribute, then all function declarations
and definitions with that name (and in that scope) must have the
``overloadable`` attribute.  This rule even applies to redeclarations of
functions whose original declaration had the ``overloadable`` attribute, e.g.,

.. code-block:: c

  int f(int) __attribute__((overloadable));
  float f(float); // error: declaration of "f" must have the "overloadable" attribute

  int g(int) __attribute__((overloadable));
  int g(int) { } // error: redeclaration of "g" must also have the "overloadable" attribute

Functions marked ``overloadable`` must have prototypes.  Therefore, the
following code is ill-formed:

.. code-block:: c

  int h() __attribute__((overloadable)); // error: h does not have a prototype

However, ``overloadable`` functions are allowed to use a ellipsis even if there
are no named parameters (as is permitted in C++).  This feature is particularly
useful when combined with the ``unavailable`` attribute:

.. code-block:: c++

  void honeypot(...) __attribute__((overloadable, unavailable)); // calling me is an error

Functions declared with the ``overloadable`` attribute have their names mangled
according to the same rules as C++ function names.  For example, the three
``tgsin`` functions in our motivating example get the mangled names
``_Z5tgsinf``, ``_Z5tgsind``, and ``_Z5tgsine``, respectively.  There are two
caveats to this use of name mangling:

* Future versions of Clang may change the name mangling of functions overloaded
  in C, so you should not depend on an specific mangling.  To be completely
  safe, we strongly urge the use of ``static inline`` with ``overloadable``
  functions.

* The ``overloadable`` attribute has almost no meaning when used in C++,
  because names will already be mangled and functions are already overloadable.
  However, when an ``overloadable`` function occurs within an ``extern "C"``
  linkage specification, it's name *will* be mangled in the same way as it
  would in C.

Query for this feature with ``__has_extension(attribute_overloadable)``.


release_capability (release_shared_capability, clang::release_capability, clang::release_shared_capability)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

Marks a function as releasing a capability.


target (gnu::target)
--------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

Clang supports the GNU style ``__attribute__((target("OPTIONS")))`` attribute.
This attribute may be attached to a function definition and instructs
the backend to use different code generation options than were passed on the
command line.

The current set of options correspond to the existing "subtarget features" for
the target with or without a "-mno-" in front corresponding to the absence
of the feature, as well as ``arch="CPU"`` which will change the default "CPU"
for the function.

Example "subtarget features" from the x86 backend include: "mmx", "sse", "sse4.2",
"avx", "xop" and largely correspond to the machine specific options handled by
the front end.


try_acquire_capability (try_acquire_shared_capability, clang::try_acquire_capability, clang::try_acquire_shared_capability)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

Marks a function that attempts to acquire a capability. This function may fail to
actually acquire the capability; they accept a Boolean value determining
whether acquiring the capability means success (true), or failing to acquire
the capability means success (false).


Variable Attributes
===================


init_seg
--------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","", "X"

The attribute applied by ``pragma init_seg()`` controls the section into
which global initialization function pointers are emitted.  It is only
available with ``-fms-extensions``.  Typically, this function pointer is
emitted into ``.CRT$XCU`` on Windows.  The user can change the order of
initialization by using a different section name with the same
``.CRT$XC`` prefix and a suffix that sorts lexicographically before or
after the standard ``.CRT$XCU`` sections.  See the init_seg_
documentation on MSDN for more information.

.. _init_seg: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/7977wcck(v=vs.110).aspx


pass_object_size
----------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

.. Note:: The mangling of functions with parameters that are annotated with
  ``pass_object_size`` is subject to change. You can get around this by
  using ``__asm__("foo")`` to explicitly name your functions, thus preserving
  your ABI; also, non-overloadable C functions with ``pass_object_size`` are
  not mangled.

The ``pass_object_size(Type)`` attribute can be placed on function parameters to
instruct clang to call ``__builtin_object_size(param, Type)`` at each callsite
of said function, and implicitly pass the result of this call in as an invisible
argument of type ``size_t`` directly after the parameter annotated with
``pass_object_size``. Clang will also replace any calls to
``__builtin_object_size(param, Type)`` in the function by said implicit
parameter.

Example usage:

.. code-block:: c

  int bzero1(char *const p __attribute__((pass_object_size(0))))
      __attribute__((noinline)) {
    int i = 0;
    for (/**/; i < (int)__builtin_object_size(p, 0); ++i) {
      p[i] = 0;
    }
    return i;
  }

  int main() {
    char chars[100];
    int n = bzero1(&chars[0]);
    assert(n == sizeof(chars));
    return 0;
  }

If successfully evaluating ``__builtin_object_size(param, Type)`` at the
callsite is not possible, then the "failed" value is passed in. So, using the
definition of ``bzero1`` from above, the following code would exit cleanly:

.. code-block:: c

  int main2(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    int n = bzero1(argv);
    assert(n == -1);
    return 0;
  }

``pass_object_size`` plays a part in overload resolution. If two overload
candidates are otherwise equally good, then the overload with one or more
parameters with ``pass_object_size`` is preferred. This implies that the choice
between two identical overloads both with ``pass_object_size`` on one or more
parameters will always be ambiguous; for this reason, having two such overloads
is illegal. For example:

.. code-block:: c++

  #define PS(N) __attribute__((pass_object_size(N)))
  // OK
  void Foo(char *a, char *b); // Overload A
  // OK -- overload A has no parameters with pass_object_size.
  void Foo(char *a PS(0), char *b PS(0)); // Overload B
  // Error -- Same signature (sans pass_object_size) as overload B, and both
  // overloads have one or more parameters with the pass_object_size attribute.
  void Foo(void *a PS(0), void *b);

  // OK
  void Bar(void *a PS(0)); // Overload C
  // OK
  void Bar(char *c PS(1)); // Overload D

  void main() {
    char known[10], *unknown;
    Foo(unknown, unknown); // Calls overload B
    Foo(known, unknown); // Calls overload B
    Foo(unknown, known); // Calls overload B
    Foo(known, known); // Calls overload B

    Bar(known); // Calls overload D
    Bar(unknown); // Calls overload D
  }

Currently, ``pass_object_size`` is a bit restricted in terms of its usage:

* Only one use of ``pass_object_size`` is allowed per parameter.

* It is an error to take the address of a function with ``pass_object_size`` on
  any of its parameters. If you wish to do this, you can create an overload
  without ``pass_object_size`` on any parameters.

* It is an error to apply the ``pass_object_size`` attribute to parameters that
  are not pointers. Additionally, any parameter that ``pass_object_size`` is
  applied to must be marked ``const`` at its function's definition.


section (gnu::section, __declspec(allocate))
--------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","X","", ""

The ``section`` attribute allows you to specify a specific section a
global variable or function should be in after translation.


tls_model (gnu::tls_model)
--------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``tls_model`` attribute allows you to specify which thread-local storage
model to use. It accepts the following strings:

* global-dynamic
* local-dynamic
* initial-exec
* local-exec

TLS models are mutually exclusive.


thread
------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","X","", ""

The ``__declspec(thread)`` attribute declares a variable with thread local
storage.  It is available under the ``-fms-extensions`` flag for MSVC
compatibility.  See the documentation for `__declspec(thread)`_ on MSDN.

.. _`__declspec(thread)`: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/9w1sdazb.aspx

In Clang, ``__declspec(thread)`` is generally equivalent in functionality to the
GNU ``__thread`` keyword.  The variable must not have a destructor and must have
a constant initializer, if any.  The attribute only applies to variables
declared with static storage duration, such as globals, class static data
members, and static locals.


Type Attributes
===============


align_value
-----------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

The align_value attribute can be added to the typedef of a pointer type or the
declaration of a variable of pointer or reference type. It specifies that the
pointer will point to, or the reference will bind to, only objects with at
least the provided alignment. This alignment value must be some positive power
of 2.

   .. code-block:: c

     typedef double * aligned_double_ptr __attribute__((align_value(64)));
     void foo(double & x  __attribute__((align_value(128)),
              aligned_double_ptr y) { ... }

If the pointer value does not have the specified alignment at runtime, the
behavior of the program is undefined.


flag_enum
---------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

This attribute can be added to an enumerator to signal to the compiler that it
is intended to be used as a flag type. This will cause the compiler to assume
that the range of the type includes all of the values that you can get by
manipulating bits of the enumerator when issuing warnings.


__single_inhertiance, __multiple_inheritance, __virtual_inheritance
-------------------------------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

This collection of keywords is enabled under ``-fms-extensions`` and controls
the pointer-to-member representation used on ``*-*-win32`` targets.

The ``*-*-win32`` targets utilize a pointer-to-member representation which
varies in size and alignment depending on the definition of the underlying
class.

However, this is problematic when a forward declaration is only available and
no definition has been made yet.  In such cases, Clang is forced to utilize the
most general representation that is available to it.

These keywords make it possible to use a pointer-to-member representation other
than the most general one regardless of whether or not the definition will ever
be present in the current translation unit.

This family of keywords belong between the ``class-key`` and ``class-name``:

.. code-block:: c++

  struct __single_inheritance S;
  int S::*i;
  struct S {};

This keyword can be applied to class templates but only has an effect when used
on full specializations:

.. code-block:: c++

  template <typename T, typename U> struct __single_inheritance A; // warning: inheritance model ignored on primary template
  template <typename T> struct __multiple_inheritance A<T, T>; // warning: inheritance model ignored on partial specialization
  template <> struct __single_inheritance A<int, float>;

Note that choosing an inheritance model less general than strictly necessary is
an error:

.. code-block:: c++

  struct __multiple_inheritance S; // error: inheritance model does not match definition
  int S::*i;
  struct S {};


novtable
--------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","X","", ""

This attribute can be added to a class declaration or definition to signal to
the compiler that constructors and destructors will not reference the virtual
function table. It is only supported when using the Microsoft C++ ABI.


Statement Attributes
====================


fallthrough (clang::fallthrough)
--------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","X","","", ""

The ``clang::fallthrough`` attribute is used along with the
``-Wimplicit-fallthrough`` argument to annotate intentional fall-through
between switch labels.  It can only be applied to a null statement placed at a
point of execution between any statement and the next switch label.  It is
common to mark these places with a specific comment, but this attribute is
meant to replace comments with a more strict annotation, which can be checked
by the compiler.  This attribute doesn't change semantics of the code and can
be used wherever an intended fall-through occurs.  It is designed to mimic
control-flow statements like ``break;``, so it can be placed in most places
where ``break;`` can, but only if there are no statements on the execution path
between it and the next switch label.

Here is an example:

.. code-block:: c++

  // compile with -Wimplicit-fallthrough
  switch (n) {
  case 22:
  case 33:  // no warning: no statements between case labels
    f();
  case 44:  // warning: unannotated fall-through
    g();
    [[clang::fallthrough]];
  case 55:  // no warning
    if (x) {
      h();
      break;
    }
    else {
      i();
      [[clang::fallthrough]];
    }
  case 66:  // no warning
    p();
    [[clang::fallthrough]]; // warning: fallthrough annotation does not
                            //          directly precede case label
    q();
  case 77:  // warning: unannotated fall-through
    r();
  }


#pragma clang loop
------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","", "X"

The ``#pragma clang loop`` directive allows loop optimization hints to be
specified for the subsequent loop. The directive allows vectorization,
interleaving, and unrolling to be enabled or disabled. Vector width as well
as interleave and unrolling count can be manually specified. See
`language extensions
<http://clang.llvm.org/docs/LanguageExtensions.html#extensions-for-loop-hint-optimizations>`_
for details.


#pragma unroll, #pragma nounroll
--------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","", "X"

Loop unrolling optimization hints can be specified with ``#pragma unroll`` and
``#pragma nounroll``. The pragma is placed immediately before a for, while,
do-while, or c++11 range-based for loop.

Specifying ``#pragma unroll`` without a parameter directs the loop unroller to
attempt to fully unroll the loop if the trip count is known at compile time and
attempt to partially unroll the loop if the trip count is not known at compile
time:

.. code-block:: c++

  #pragma unroll
  for (...) {
    ...
  }

Specifying the optional parameter, ``#pragma unroll _value_``, directs the
unroller to unroll the loop ``_value_`` times.  The parameter may optionally be
enclosed in parentheses:

.. code-block:: c++

  #pragma unroll 16
  for (...) {
    ...
  }

  #pragma unroll(16)
  for (...) {
    ...
  }

Specifying ``#pragma nounroll`` indicates that the loop should not be unrolled:

.. code-block:: c++

  #pragma nounroll
  for (...) {
    ...
  }

``#pragma unroll`` and ``#pragma unroll _value_`` have identical semantics to
``#pragma clang loop unroll(full)`` and
``#pragma clang loop unroll_count(_value_)`` respectively. ``#pragma nounroll``
is equivalent to ``#pragma clang loop unroll(disable)``.  See
`language extensions
<http://clang.llvm.org/docs/LanguageExtensions.html#extensions-for-loop-hint-optimizations>`_
for further details including limitations of the unroll hints.


Type Safety Checking
====================
Clang supports additional attributes to enable checking type safety properties
that can't be enforced by the C type system.  Use cases include:

* MPI library implementations, where these attributes enable checking that
  the buffer type matches the passed ``MPI_Datatype``;
* for HDF5 library there is a similar use case to MPI;
* checking types of variadic functions' arguments for functions like
  ``fcntl()`` and ``ioctl()``.

You can detect support for these attributes with ``__has_attribute()``.  For
example:

.. code-block:: c++

  #if defined(__has_attribute)
  #  if __has_attribute(argument_with_type_tag) && \
        __has_attribute(pointer_with_type_tag) && \
        __has_attribute(type_tag_for_datatype)
  #    define ATTR_MPI_PWT(buffer_idx, type_idx) __attribute__((pointer_with_type_tag(mpi,buffer_idx,type_idx)))
  /* ... other macros ...  */
  #  endif
  #endif

  #if !defined(ATTR_MPI_PWT)
  # define ATTR_MPI_PWT(buffer_idx, type_idx)
  #endif

  int MPI_Send(void *buf, int count, MPI_Datatype datatype /*, other args omitted */)
      ATTR_MPI_PWT(1,3);

argument_with_type_tag
----------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Use ``__attribute__((argument_with_type_tag(arg_kind, arg_idx,
type_tag_idx)))`` on a function declaration to specify that the function
accepts a type tag that determines the type of some other argument.
``arg_kind`` is an identifier that should be used when annotating all
applicable type tags.

This attribute is primarily useful for checking arguments of variadic functions
(``pointer_with_type_tag`` can be used in most non-variadic cases).

For example:

.. code-block:: c++

  int fcntl(int fd, int cmd, ...)
      __attribute__(( argument_with_type_tag(fcntl,3,2) ));


pointer_with_type_tag
---------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Use ``__attribute__((pointer_with_type_tag(ptr_kind, ptr_idx, type_tag_idx)))``
on a function declaration to specify that the function accepts a type tag that
determines the pointee type of some other pointer argument.

For example:

.. code-block:: c++

  int MPI_Send(void *buf, int count, MPI_Datatype datatype /*, other args omitted */)
      __attribute__(( pointer_with_type_tag(mpi,1,3) ));


type_tag_for_datatype
---------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Clang supports annotating type tags of two forms.

* **Type tag that is an expression containing a reference to some declared
  identifier.** Use ``__attribute__((type_tag_for_datatype(kind, type)))`` on a
  declaration with that identifier:

  .. code-block:: c++

    extern struct mpi_datatype mpi_datatype_int
        __attribute__(( type_tag_for_datatype(mpi,int) ));
    #define MPI_INT ((MPI_Datatype) &mpi_datatype_int)

* **Type tag that is an integral literal.** Introduce a ``static const``
  variable with a corresponding initializer value and attach
  ``__attribute__((type_tag_for_datatype(kind, type)))`` on that declaration,
  for example:

  .. code-block:: c++

    #define MPI_INT ((MPI_Datatype) 42)
    static const MPI_Datatype mpi_datatype_int
        __attribute__(( type_tag_for_datatype(mpi,int) )) = 42

The attribute also accepts an optional third argument that determines how the
expression is compared to the type tag.  There are two supported flags:

* ``layout_compatible`` will cause types to be compared according to
  layout-compatibility rules (C++11 [class.mem] p 17, 18).  This is
  implemented to support annotating types like ``MPI_DOUBLE_INT``.

  For example:

  .. code-block:: c++

    /* In mpi.h */
    struct internal_mpi_double_int { double d; int i; };
    extern struct mpi_datatype mpi_datatype_double_int
        __attribute__(( type_tag_for_datatype(mpi, struct internal_mpi_double_int, layout_compatible) ));

    #define MPI_DOUBLE_INT ((MPI_Datatype) &mpi_datatype_double_int)

    /* In user code */
    struct my_pair { double a; int b; };
    struct my_pair *buffer;
    MPI_Send(buffer, 1, MPI_DOUBLE_INT /*, ...  */); // no warning

    struct my_int_pair { int a; int b; }
    struct my_int_pair *buffer2;
    MPI_Send(buffer2, 1, MPI_DOUBLE_INT /*, ...  */); // warning: actual buffer element
                                                      // type 'struct my_int_pair'
                                                      // doesn't match specified MPI_Datatype

* ``must_be_null`` specifies that the expression should be a null pointer
  constant, for example:

  .. code-block:: c++

    /* In mpi.h */
    extern struct mpi_datatype mpi_datatype_null
        __attribute__(( type_tag_for_datatype(mpi, void, must_be_null) ));

    #define MPI_DATATYPE_NULL ((MPI_Datatype) &mpi_datatype_null)

    /* In user code */
    MPI_Send(buffer, 1, MPI_DATATYPE_NULL /*, ...  */); // warning: MPI_DATATYPE_NULL
                                                        // was specified but buffer
                                                        // is not a null pointer


AMD GPU Register Attributes
===========================
Clang supports attributes for controlling register usage on AMD GPU
targets. These attributes may be attached to a kernel function
definition and is an optimization hint to the backend for the maximum
number of registers to use. This is useful in cases where register
limited occupancy is known to be an important factor for the
performance for the kernel.

The semantics are as follows:

- The backend will attempt to limit the number of used registers to
  the specified value, but the exact number used is not
  guaranteed. The number used may be rounded up to satisfy the
  allocation requirements or ABI constraints of the subtarget. For
  example, on Southern Islands VGPRs may only be allocated in
  increments of 4, so requesting a limit of 39 VGPRs will really
  attempt to use up to 40. Requesting more registers than the
  subtarget supports will truncate to the maximum allowed. The backend
  may also use fewer registers than requested whenever possible.

- 0 implies the default no limit on register usage.

- Ignored on older VLIW subtargets which did not have separate scalar
  and vector registers, R600 through Northern Islands.

amdgpu_num_sgpr
---------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Clang supports the
``__attribute__((amdgpu_num_sgpr(<num_registers>)))`` attribute on AMD
Southern Islands GPUs and later for controlling the number of scalar
registers. A typical value would be between 8 and 104 in increments of
8.

Due to common instruction constraints, an additional 2-4 SGPRs are
typically required for internal use depending on features used. This
value is a hint for the total number of SGPRs to use, and not the
number of user SGPRs, so no special consideration needs to be given
for these.


amdgpu_num_vgpr
---------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Clang supports the
``__attribute__((amdgpu_num_vgpr(<num_registers>)))`` attribute on AMD
Southern Islands GPUs and later for controlling the number of vector
registers. A typical value would be between 4 and 256 in increments
of 4.


Calling Conventions
===================
Clang supports several different calling conventions, depending on the target
platform and architecture. The calling convention used for a function determines
how parameters are passed, how results are returned to the caller, and other
low-level details of calling a function.

fastcall (gnu::fastcall, __fastcall, _fastcall)
-----------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","X", ""

On 32-bit x86 targets, this attribute changes the calling convention of a
function to use ECX and EDX as register parameters and clear parameters off of
the stack on return. This convention does not support variadic calls or
unprototyped functions in C, and has no effect on x86_64 targets. This calling
convention is supported primarily for compatibility with existing code. Users
seeking register parameters should use the ``regparm`` attribute, which does
not require callee-cleanup.  See the documentation for `__fastcall`_ on MSDN.

.. _`__fastcall`: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/6xa169sk.aspx


ms_abi (gnu::ms_abi)
--------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

On non-Windows x86_64 targets, this attribute changes the calling convention of
a function to match the default convention used on Windows x86_64. This
attribute has no effect on Windows targets or non-x86_64 targets.


pcs (gnu::pcs)
--------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

On ARM targets, this attribute can be used to select calling conventions
similar to ``stdcall`` on x86. Valid parameter values are "aapcs" and
"aapcs-vfp".


regparm (gnu::regparm)
----------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

On 32-bit x86 targets, the regparm attribute causes the compiler to pass
the first three integer parameters in EAX, EDX, and ECX instead of on the
stack. This attribute has no effect on variadic functions, and all parameters
are passed via the stack as normal.


stdcall (gnu::stdcall, __stdcall, _stdcall)
-------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","X", ""

On 32-bit x86 targets, this attribute changes the calling convention of a
function to clear parameters off of the stack on return. This convention does
not support variadic calls or unprototyped functions in C, and has no effect on
x86_64 targets. This calling convention is used widely by the Windows API and
COM applications.  See the documentation for `__stdcall`_ on MSDN.

.. _`__stdcall`: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/zxk0tw93.aspx


thiscall (gnu::thiscall, __thiscall, _thiscall)
-----------------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","X", ""

On 32-bit x86 targets, this attribute changes the calling convention of a
function to use ECX for the first parameter (typically the implicit ``this``
parameter of C++ methods) and clear parameters off of the stack on return. This
convention does not support variadic calls or unprototyped functions in C, and
has no effect on x86_64 targets. See the documentation for `__thiscall`_ on
MSDN.

.. _`__thiscall`: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ek8tkfbw.aspx


vectorcall (__vectorcall, _vectorcall)
--------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","X", ""

On 32-bit x86 *and* x86_64 targets, this attribute changes the calling
convention of a function to pass vector parameters in SSE registers.

On 32-bit x86 targets, this calling convention is similar to ``__fastcall``.
The first two integer parameters are passed in ECX and EDX. Subsequent integer
parameters are passed in memory, and callee clears the stack.  On x86_64
targets, the callee does *not* clear the stack, and integer parameters are
passed in RCX, RDX, R8, and R9 as is done for the default Windows x64 calling
convention.

On both 32-bit x86 and x86_64 targets, vector and floating point arguments are
passed in XMM0-XMM5. Homogenous vector aggregates of up to four elements are
passed in sequential SSE registers if enough are available. If AVX is enabled,
256 bit vectors are passed in YMM0-YMM5. Any vector or aggregate type that
cannot be passed in registers for any reason is passed by reference, which
allows the caller to align the parameter memory.

See the documentation for `__vectorcall`_ on MSDN for more details.

.. _`__vectorcall`: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn375768.aspx


Consumed Annotation Checking
============================
Clang supports additional attributes for checking basic resource management
properties, specifically for unique objects that have a single owning reference.
The following attributes are currently supported, although **the implementation
for these annotations is currently in development and are subject to change.**

callable_when
-------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Use ``__attribute__((callable_when(...)))`` to indicate what states a method
may be called in.  Valid states are unconsumed, consumed, or unknown.  Each
argument to this attribute must be a quoted string.  E.g.:

``__attribute__((callable_when("unconsumed", "unknown")))``


consumable
----------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Each ``class`` that uses any of the typestate annotations must first be marked
using the ``consumable`` attribute.  Failure to do so will result in a warning.

This attribute accepts a single parameter that must be one of the following:
``unknown``, ``consumed``, or ``unconsumed``.


param_typestate
---------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

This attribute specifies expectations about function parameters.  Calls to an
function with annotated parameters will issue a warning if the corresponding
argument isn't in the expected state.  The attribute is also used to set the
initial state of the parameter when analyzing the function's body.


return_typestate
----------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

The ``return_typestate`` attribute can be applied to functions or parameters.
When applied to a function the attribute specifies the state of the returned
value.  The function's body is checked to ensure that it always returns a value
in the specified state.  On the caller side, values returned by the annotated
function are initialized to the given state.

When applied to a function parameter it modifies the state of an argument after
a call to the function returns.  The function's body is checked to ensure that
the parameter is in the expected state before returning.


set_typestate
-------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Annotate methods that transition an object into a new state with
``__attribute__((set_typestate(new_state)))``.  The new state must be
unconsumed, consumed, or unknown.


test_typestate
--------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","","","", ""

Use ``__attribute__((test_typestate(tested_state)))`` to indicate that a method
returns true if the object is in the specified state..


OpenCL Address Spaces
=====================
The address space qualifier may be used to specify the region of memory that is
used to allocate the object. OpenCL supports the following address spaces:
__generic(generic), __global(global), __local(local), __private(private),
__constant(constant).

  .. code-block:: c

    __constant int c = ...;

    __generic int* foo(global int* g) {
      __local int* l;
      private int p;
      ...
      return l;
    }

More details can be found in the OpenCL C language Spec v2.0, Section 6.5.

constant (__constant)
---------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

The constant address space attribute signals that an object is located in
a constant (non-modifiable) memory region. It is available to all work items.
Any type can be annotated with the constant address space attribute. Objects
with the constant address space qualifier can be declared in any scope and must
have an initializer.


generic (__generic)
-------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

The generic address space attribute is only available with OpenCL v2.0 and later.
It can be used with pointer types. Variables in global and local scope and
function parameters in non-kernel functions can have the generic address space
type attribute. It is intended to be a placeholder for any other address space
except for '__constant' in OpenCL code which can be used with multiple address
spaces.


global (__global)
-----------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

The global address space attribute specifies that an object is allocated in
global memory, which is accessible by all work items. The content stored in this
memory area persists between kernel executions. Pointer types to the global
address space are allowed as function parameters or local variables. Starting
with OpenCL v2.0, the global address space can be used with global (program
scope) variables and static local variable as well.


local (__local)
---------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

The local address space specifies that an object is allocated in the local (work
group) memory area, which is accessible to all work items in the same work
group. The content stored in this memory region is not accessible after
the kernel execution ends. In a kernel function scope, any variable can be in
the local address space. In other scopes, only pointer types to the local address
space are allowed. Local address space variables cannot have an initializer.


private (__private)
-------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

The private address space specifies that an object is allocated in the private
(work item) memory. Other work items cannot access the same memory area and its
content is destroyed after work item execution ends. Local variables can be
declared in the private address space. Function arguments are always in the
private address space. Kernel function arguments of a pointer or an array type
cannot point to the private address space.


Nullability Attributes
======================
Whether a particular pointer may be "null" is an important concern when working with pointers in the C family of languages. The various nullability attributes indicate whether a particular pointer can be null or not, which makes APIs more expressive and can help static analysis tools identify bugs involving null pointers. Clang supports several kinds of nullability attributes: the ``nonnull`` and ``returns_nonnull`` attributes indicate which function or method parameters and result types can never be null, while nullability type qualifiers indicate which pointer types can be null (``_Nullable``) or cannot be null (``_Nonnull``). 

The nullability (type) qualifiers express whether a value of a given pointer type can be null (the ``_Nullable`` qualifier), doesn't have a defined meaning for null (the ``_Nonnull`` qualifier), or for which the purpose of null is unclear (the ``_Null_unspecified`` qualifier). Because nullability qualifiers are expressed within the type system, they are more general than the ``nonnull`` and ``returns_nonnull`` attributes, allowing one to express (for example) a nullable pointer to an array of nonnull pointers. Nullability qualifiers are written to the right of the pointer to which they apply. For example:

  .. code-block:: c

    // No meaningful result when 'ptr' is null (here, it happens to be undefined behavior).
    int fetch(int * _Nonnull ptr) { return *ptr; }

    // 'ptr' may be null.
    int fetch_or_zero(int * _Nullable ptr) {
      return ptr ? *ptr : 0;
    }

    // A nullable pointer to non-null pointers to const characters.
    const char *join_strings(const char * _Nonnull * _Nullable strings, unsigned n);

In Objective-C, there is an alternate spelling for the nullability qualifiers that can be used in Objective-C methods and properties using context-sensitive, non-underscored keywords. For example:

  .. code-block:: objective-c

    @interface NSView : NSResponder
      - (nullable NSView *)ancestorSharedWithView:(nonnull NSView *)aView;
      @property (assign, nullable) NSView *superview;
      @property (readonly, nonnull) NSArray *subviews;
    @end

nonnull (gnu::nonnull)
----------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``nonnull`` attribute indicates that some function parameters must not be null, and can be used in several different ways. It's original usage (`from GCC <https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Common-Function-Attributes.html#Common-Function-Attributes>`_) is as a function (or Objective-C method) attribute that specifies which parameters of the function are nonnull in a comma-separated list. For example:

  .. code-block:: c

    extern void * my_memcpy (void *dest, const void *src, size_t len)
                    __attribute__((nonnull (1, 2)));

Here, the ``nonnull`` attribute indicates that parameters 1 and 2
cannot have a null value. Omitting the parenthesized list of parameter indices means that all parameters of pointer type cannot be null:

  .. code-block:: c

    extern void * my_memcpy (void *dest, const void *src, size_t len)
                    __attribute__((nonnull));

Clang also allows the ``nonnull`` attribute to be placed directly on a function (or Objective-C method) parameter, eliminating the need to specify the parameter index ahead of type. For example:

  .. code-block:: c

    extern void * my_memcpy (void *dest __attribute__((nonnull)),
                             const void *src __attribute__((nonnull)), size_t len);

Note that the ``nonnull`` attribute indicates that passing null to a non-null parameter is undefined behavior, which the optimizer may take advantage of to, e.g., remove null checks. The ``_Nonnull`` type qualifier indicates that a pointer cannot be null in a more general manner (because it is part of the type system) and does not imply undefined behavior, making it more widely applicable.


returns_nonnull (gnu::returns_nonnull)
--------------------------------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "X","X","","", ""

The ``returns_nonnull`` attribute indicates that a particular function (or Objective-C method) always returns a non-null pointer. For example, a particular system ``malloc`` might be defined to terminate a process when memory is not available rather than returning a null pointer:

  .. code-block:: c

    extern void * malloc (size_t size) __attribute__((returns_nonnull));

The ``returns_nonnull`` attribute implies that returning a null pointer is undefined behavior, which the optimizer may take advantage of. The ``_Nonnull`` type qualifier indicates that a pointer cannot be null in a more general manner (because it is part of the type system) and does not imply undefined behavior, making it more widely applicable


_Nonnull
--------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

The ``_Nonnull`` nullability qualifier indicates that null is not a meaningful value for a value of the ``_Nonnull`` pointer type. For example, given a declaration such as:

  .. code-block:: c

    int fetch(int * _Nonnull ptr);

a caller of ``fetch`` should not provide a null value, and the compiler will produce a warning if it sees a literal null value passed to ``fetch``. Note that, unlike the declaration attribute ``nonnull``, the presence of ``_Nonnull`` does not imply that passing null is undefined behavior: ``fetch`` is free to consider null undefined behavior or (perhaps for backward-compatibility reasons) defensively handle null.


_Null_unspecified
-----------------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

The ``_Null_unspecified`` nullability qualifier indicates that neither the ``_Nonnull`` nor ``_Nullable`` qualifiers make sense for a particular pointer type. It is used primarily to indicate that the role of null with specific pointers in a nullability-annotated header is unclear, e.g., due to overly-complex implementations or historical factors with a long-lived API.


_Nullable
---------
.. csv-table:: Supported Syntaxes
   :header: "GNU", "C++11", "__declspec", "Keyword", "Pragma"

   "","","","X", ""

The ``_Nullable`` nullability qualifier indicates that a value of the ``_Nullable`` pointer type can be null. For example, given:

  .. code-block:: c

    int fetch_or_zero(int * _Nullable ptr);

a caller of ``fetch_or_zero`` can provide null.


