Base pointer
A base pointer is a pointer or register holding a reference address used as a starting point for accessing a memory region.
Modern C
A base pointer is a processor register used to identify a stable reference position for a function's stack-resident data.
- How it is used
- Uses the base pointer to organize and access a function’s automatic variables in reserved stack memory.
- How deep it goes
- Explains register roles, stack-frame setup, and negative offsets through assembler, including an optimized variant.
- Examples
- Uses the fgoto assembler listing, with n, j, and p stored at explicit negative offsets from %rbp.
- What you can do after
- Evaluate assembler instructions by relating base-pointer-relative addresses to a function’s local variables and stack layout.
Modern C, Third Edition
A base pointer is a processor register used as a stable reference point for accessing a function's stack-resident data.
- How it is used
- Explains how a function locates stack-resident automatic data during execution.
- How deep it goes
- Works through register setup and concrete offsets, then contrasts them with an optimized variant.
- Examples
- Uses fgoto, the -36(%rbp) access for n, and prologue instructions that reserve 48 bytes.
- What you can do after
- Evaluate assembler function setup and interpret local-data accesses relative to a base pointer.
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