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💡 TL;DR：/ @file blackclass.cpp @brief The size of an empty class is 1 byte @author 光城 @version v1 @date 2019-07-21 / using namespace std; class A{}; int main cout<<sizeofA<<endl; r

Last updated：2026-10-13

C++ sizeof Explained: Type Sizes and the Empty-Class 1

First a summary, then real examples below — hands-on time!

  • The size of an empty class is 1 byte
  • Within a class, the virtual functions themselves, member functions (both static and non-static), and static data members take up no storage space in class objects.
  • For a class containing virtual functions, no matter how many virtual functions there are, there is only one virtual pointer — the size of the vptr.
  • With ordinary inheritance, the derived class inherits all the base class's functions and members, and the size must be computed according to byte alignment
  • With virtual-function inheritance, whether single or multiple inheritance, the base class's vptr is inherited. (4 bytes on a 32-bit OS, 8 bytes on a 64-bit OS)!
  • With virtual inheritance, the base class's vptr is inherited. Note that the result is compiler-dependent: GCC merges the virtual base pointer with the virtual function table pointer (e.g. 8/8/16), while MSVC/Windows stores them separately (e.g. 8/8/32); see issue #246.

1. Principle 1

/**
 * @file blackclass.cpp
 * @brief 空类的大小为1字节
 * @author 光城
 * @version v1
 * @date 2019-07-21
 */
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class A{};
int main()
{
    cout<<sizeof(A)<<endl;
    return 0;
}

2. Principle 2

/**
 * @file static.cpp
 * @brief 静态数据成员
 * 静态数据成员被编译器放在程序的一个global data members中，它是类的一个数据成员，但不影响类的大小。不管这个类产生了多少个实例，还是派生了多少新的类，静态数据成员只有一个实例。静态数据成员，一旦被声明，就已经存在。 
 * @author 光城
 * @version v1
 * @date 2019-07-21
 */
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
    public:
        char b;
        virtual void fun() {};
        static int c;
        static int d;
        static int f;
};

int main()
{
    /**
     * @brief 16  字节对齐、静态变量不影响类的大小、vptr指针=8
     */
    cout<<sizeof(A)<<endl; 
    return 0;
}

3. Principle 3

/**
 * @file morevir.cpp
 * @brief 对于包含虚函数的类，不管有多少个虚函数，只有一个虚指针,vptr的大小。
 * @author 光城
 * @version v1
 * @date 2019-07-21
 */
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class A{
    virtual void fun();
    virtual void fun1();
    virtual void fun2();
    virtual void fun3();
};
int main()
{
    cout<<sizeof(A)<<endl; // 8
    return 0;
}

4. Principles 4 and 5

/**
 * @file geninhe.cpp
 * @brief 1.普通单继承,继承就是基类+派生类自身的大小(注意字节对齐)
 * 注意：类的数据成员按其声明顺序加入内存，无访问权限无关，只看声明顺序。
 * 2.虚单继承，派生类继承基类vptr
 * @author 光城
 * @version v1
 * @date 2019-07-21
 */

#include<iostream>

using namespace std;

class A
{
    public:
        char a;
        int b;
};

/**
 * @brief 此时B按照顺序：
 * char a
 * int b
 * short a
 * long b
 * 根据字节对齐4+4+8+8=24
 * 
 * 或编译器优化
 * char a
 * short a
 * int b
 * long b
 * 根据字节对齐2+2+4+8=16
 */
class B:A
{
    public:
        short a;
        long b;
};
/**
* 把A的成员拆开看，char为1，int为4，所以是1+（3）+4+1+（3）=12，（）为字节补齐
*/
class C
{
    A a;
    char c;
};

class A1
{
    virtual void fun(){}
};
class C1:public A1
{
};


int main()
{
    cout<<sizeof(A)<<endl; // 8
    cout<<sizeof(B)<<endl; // 16 或 24
    cout<<sizeof(C)<<endl; // 12

    /**
     * @brief 对于虚单函数继承，派生类也继承了基类的vptr，所以是8字节
     */
    cout<<sizeof(C1)<<endl; // 8 
    return 0;
}

5. Principle 6

/**
 * @file virnhe.cpp
 * @brief 虚继承
 * @author 光城
 * @version v1
 * @date 2019-07-21
 */

#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
    virtual void fun() {}
};
class B
{
    virtual void fun2() {}
};
class C : virtual public  A, virtual public B
{
    public:
        virtual void fun3() {}
};

int main()
{
    /**
     * @brief 8 8 16  派生类虚继承多个虚函数，会继承所有虚函数的vptr
     */
    cout<<sizeof(A)<<" "<<sizeof(B)<<" "<<sizeof(C);

    return 0;
}

FAQ

Why is sizeof an empty class 1?

C++ requires distinct objects to have distinct addresses; a size of 0 would make array elements overlap, so an empty class occupies at least 1 byte.

How much does a virtual function add to sizeof?

One vptr: 8 bytes on 64-bit platforms. Multiple inheritance can introduce several vptrs and a larger size.

Is sizeof evaluated at compile time or runtime?

Compile time (always, in C++). The result is a constant expression usable as an array bound or template argument.

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