[rustc.git] / src / doc / nomicon / src / uninitialized.md

# Working With Uninitialized Memory

All runtime-allocated memory in a Rust program begins its life as
*uninitialized*. In this state the value of the memory is an indeterminate pile
of bits that may or may not even reflect a valid state for the type that is
supposed to inhabit that location of memory. Attempting to interpret this memory
as a value of *any* type will cause Undefined Behavior. Do Not Do This.

Rust provides mechanisms to work with uninitialized memory in checked (safe) and
unchecked (unsafe) ways.
Commit	Line	Data
8bb4bdeb	1	# Working With Uninitialized Memory
c1a9b12d SL	2
	3	All runtime-allocated memory in a Rust program begins its life as
	4	uninitialized. In this state the value of the memory is an indeterminate pile
	5	of bits that may or may not even reflect a valid state for the type that is
	6	supposed to inhabit that location of memory. Attempting to interpret this memory
b039eaaf	7	as a value of any type will cause Undefined Behavior. Do Not Do This.
c1a9b12d SL	8
c1a9b12d SL	9	Rust provides mechanisms to work with uninitialized memory in checked (safe) and
b039eaaf	10	unchecked (unsafe) ways.