别名分析是试图决定两个指针是否指向同一块内存的一类技术,这类技术有很多种不同的算法和方法。所以,别名分析也常常被称作是指针分析。别名分析通常会返回是别名、或许是别名和不是别名等几种情况。
LLVM别名分析的核心是AliasAnalysis类。这个类提供了用户或者是LLVM系统内部使用别名分析所需要的接口。AliasAnalysis类的代码在llvm/lib/Analysis/目录下有AliasAnalysis.cpp。
AliasAnalysis类中用到了一个很重要的枚举(代码出自AliasAnalysis.h):
78 enum AliasResult : uint8_t {
79 /// The two locations do not alias at all.
80 ///
81 /// This value is arranged to convert to false, while all other values
82 /// convert to true. This allows a boolean context to convert the result to
83 /// a binary flag indicating whether there is the possibility of aliasing.
84 NoAlias = 0,
85 /// The two locations may or may not alias. This is the least precise result.
86 MayAlias,
87 /// The two locations alias, but only due to a partial overlap.
88 PartialAlias,
89 /// The two locations precisely alias each other.
90 MustAlias,
91 };