Inner blocks

The C language defines a block as a compound statement that begins and ends with braces, ``{'' and ``}''. An inner block is a block that occurs within a function (which is also a block).

For each inner block that has local symbols defined, a special symbol .bb is put in the symbol table immediately before the first local symbol of that block. Also a special symbol .eb is put in the symbol table immediately after the last local symbol of that block. The sequence is shown in Table 7-13, ``Special symbols (.bb and .eb)''.

Table 7-13 Special symbols (.bb and .eb)

 .bb 
 --------------
 local symbols
 for that block
 --------------
 .eb 

Because inner blocks can be nested by several levels, the .bb-.eb pairs and associated symbols may also be nested as shown below:

   {                            /* block 1 */
           int i;
           char c;
           ...
           {                    /* block 2 */
                   long a;
                   ...
               {                /* block 3 */
                         int x;
                         ....
               }                /* block 3 */
   

           }                    /* block 2 */
   

           {                    /* block 4 */
                         long i;
                         ...
           }                    /* block 4 */
   }                            /* block 1 */

The symbol table would look like Table 7-14, ``Example of the symbol table''

Table 7-14 Example of the symbol table

 -----------------
| .bb for block 1|
|----------------|
|        i       |
|----------------|
|        c       |
|----------------|
| .bb for block 2|
|----------------|
|        a       |
|----------------|
| .bb for block 3|
|----------------|
|        x       |
|----------------|
| .eb for block 3|
|----------------|
| .eb for block 2|
|----------------|
| .bb for block 4|
|----------------|
|        i       |
|----------------|
| .eb for block 4|
|----------------|
| .eb for block 1|
|----------------|