What this C++ memory-layout question tests
This is an easy C++ question that probes your understanding of how the compiler lays out data members in memory and how sizeof() relates to struct alignment and padding. It's a foundational topic in systems programming and interview loops at firms that care about low-level correctness.
To solve it, you'll need to reason about word alignment, padding bytes, and how the compiler orders fields within a struct. The question assumes a specific sizeof(int) value, so your answer depends on tracing through the memory layout step by step rather than guessing. These kinds of checks come up when optimizing data structures for cache efficiency or when debugging binary serialization issues.
- Struct member alignment and padding rules
- The
sizeof() operator and total object size - Compiler-dependent layout assumptions