Volatile

When you tell the compiler that you want a variable to be volatile, this basically tells it to not do any really fancy optimisations. This means that the compiler has to make sure that at the end of every statement, all side-effects pertaining to volatile memory have be in effect. The best example that comes to mind is this:

int my_int;
my_int = 5;
...
/* Some more statements */
...
my_int++;

What is the state of my_int's actual memory between my_int = 5 and my_int++? Well, since we haven't declared my_int as a volatile, this is undefined. The compiler may just put my_int into a register and then operate on that, and only after my_int++ will it update the memory value. All references to my_int would just refer to the register.

If we instead say

volatile int my_int;
my_int = 5;
...
/* Some more statements */
...
my_int++;

Usually this is no big deal to the programmer. The compiler can do whatever it wants in the machine language as long as in the end, it performs correctly. However, there are certain times when you want to make sure that the memory is accurate between statements.

• Shared memory. You have a piece of code that changes some memory shared between two different processes. You want to make sure that the memory really is updated by the time the other process reads it.
• Memory mapping. This is a form of shared memory. It is alright to optimise your memory accesses while the file is open, but when you unmap the file you really want to make sure that all your changes are properly recorded.
• Threaded programming. In most threaded programs, there will be some communication between processes. This is usually through the memory that the threads share together, since it is a fast method. See above for why shared memory often needs volatile.

Vol"a*tile (?), a. [F. volatil, L. volatilis, fr. volare to fly, perhaps akin to velox swift, E. velocity. Cf. Volley.]

1.

Passing through the air on wings, or by the buoyant force of the atmosphere; flying; having the power to fly.

2.

Capable of wasting away, or of easily passing into the aeriform state; subject to evaporation.

⇒ Substances which affect the smell with pungent or fragrant odors, as musk, hartshorn, and essential oils, are called volatile substances, because they waste away on exposure to the atmosphere. Alcohol and ether are called volatile liquids for a similar reason, and because they easily pass into the state of vapor on the application of heat. On the contrary, gold is a fixed substance, because it does not suffer waste, even when exposed to the heat of a furnace; and oils are called fixed when they do not evaporate on simple exposure to the atmosphere.

3.

Fig.: Light-hearted; easily affected by circumstances; airy; lively; hence, changeable; fickle; as, a volatile temper.

You are as giddy and volatile as ever. Swift.

Volatile alkali. Old Chem. See under Alkali. -- Volatile liniment, a liniment composed of sweet oil and ammonia, so called from the readiness with which the latter evaporates. -- Volatile oils. Chem. See Essential oils, under Essential.

© Webster 1913.

Vol"a*tile, n. [Cf. F. volatile.]

A winged animal; wild fowl; game.

Chaucer. Sir T. Browne.

© Webster 1913.