from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
precedence lossage
/pre'[email protected] los'@j/, n.
[C programmers] Coding error in an expression due to unexpected
grouping of arithmetic or logical operators by the compiler. Used esp.
of certain common coding errors in C due to the nonintuitively low
precedence levels of &, |, ^, <<, and >> (for this reason, experienced
C programmers deliberately forget the language's {baroque} precedence
hierarchy and parenthesize defensively). Can always be avoided by
suitable use of parentheses. {LISP} fans enjoy pointing out that this
can't happen in their favorite language, which eschews precedence
entirely, requiring one to use explicit parentheses everywhere. See
{aliasing bug}, {memory leak}, {memory smash}, {smash the stack},
{fandango on core}, {overrun screw}.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
precedence lossage
/pre's*-dens los'*j/ A misunderstanding of {operator
precedence} resulting in unintended grouping of arithmetic or
logical {operators} when coding an {expression}. Used
especially of mistakes in {C} code due to the nonintuitively
low precedence of "&", "|", "^", "<<" and ">>". For example,
the following C expression, intended to test the least
significant bit of x,
x & 1 == 0
is parsed as
x & (1 == 0)
which is always zero (false).
Some lazy programmers ignore precedence and parenthesise
everything. {Lisp} fans enjoy pointing out that this can't
happen in *their* favourite language, which eschews precedence
entirely, requiring one to use explicit parentheses
everywhere.
[{Jargon File}]
(1994-12-16)