Union

UNION:-

-  Unions like structures, contain members whose individual data types may different from another.

-  However the members within a union all share the same storage area within the computer’s memory, whereas each member within a structure is assigned its own unique storage area.

-  Thus, unions are used to save memory.

-  They are useful for applications involving multiple members, where values need not be assigned to all of the members at any one time.

Syntax of declaration Union:

union<union_name>

{

     <variable_list>;

};

Object of Union:

   union<union_name><object_name>;

e.g.

union Demo

{

     int a;

     char ch[30];

     float b;

Difference between union and structure:

1) Structure:-

—We can access all the members of structure at anytime.

—Memory is allocated for all variables.

—All members of structure can be initialized.

2) UNION:-

—Only one member of union can be accessed at anytime.

—Allocates memory for variable which variable require more memory.

—Initialized Only the first member of a union can be initialized.