# std::max_align_t

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Defined in header `<cstddef>` |  |
typedef /*implementation-defined*/ max_align_t; |  | (since C++11)

`std::max_align_t` is a trivial standard-layout type whose alignment requirement is at least as strict (as large) as that of every scalar type.

### Notes

Pointers returned by allocation functions such as std::malloc are suitably aligned for any object, which means they are aligned at least as strictly as `std::max_align_t`.

`std::max_align_t` is usually synonymous with the largest scalar type, which is long double on most platforms, and its alignment requirement is either 8 or 16.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <cstddef>
    int main()
    {
        std::cout << alignof(std::max_align_t) << '\n';
    }

Possible output:

    16

### References

- C++23 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2023):

  - 17.2.4 Sizes, alignments, and offsets [support.types.layout] (p: 504-505)

- C++20 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2020):

  - 17.2.4 Sizes, alignments, and offsets [support.types.layout] (p: 507-508)

- C++17 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2017):

  - 21.2.4 Sizes, alignments, and offsets [support.types.layout] (p: 479)

- C++14 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2014):

  - 18.2 Types [support.types] (p: 443-444)

- C++11 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2011):

  - 18.2 Types [support.types] (p: 454-455)

### See also

`alignof` operator(C++11) | queries alignment requirements of a type
alignment_of (C++11) | obtains the type's alignment requirements (class template)
is_scalar (C++11) | checks if a type is a scalar type (class template)

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