Aliasing (computing)
Multiple names for the same data location / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the term used in signals processing and computer graphics, see Aliasing. For the command, see Alias (command).
In computing, aliasing describes a situation in which a data location in memory can be accessed through different symbolic names in the program. Thus, modifying the data through one name implicitly modifies the values associated with all aliased names, which may not be expected by the programmer. As a result, aliasing makes it particularly difficult to understand, analyze and optimize programs. Aliasing analysers intend to make and compute useful information for understanding aliasing in programs.