Can storage be referenced without being copied?

Question

With for example

struct Foo {
    mapping(address => uint) b;
}

Foo[] foo;

if a function only deals with foo[4], can it reference it from storage without copying it? is that what

function c() {
    Foo memory p = foo[4];
}

does?

Ismael · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-06 04:06:23Z

3

To get a reference from a variable in the contract state you have to use storage qualifier

function c() {
    Foo storage p = foo[4];
}

Inside the c function all changes to p will update foo also.

answered Nov 6 '18 at 4:06

Ismael

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it copies nothing, right? if I use memory, does it copy anything, or, is it a reference except it cannot be updated? – cotld Nov 6 '18 at 6:23
@cotld If you use the memory qualifier it will create a copy in memory of the struct. – Ismael Nov 6 '18 at 6:53
so its less work for the EVM to use storage? is storage cheaper in gas as well? – cotld Nov 6 '18 at 6:56
@cotld Access to storage is more expensive, reading an uint from storage cost 200 gas, from memory is 3 gas, update an uint from storage cost 5000 or 20000 gas. But memory is very limited if you use too much the cost grows quickly. In practice you have to try different approaches to reduce gas consumption, ie use only storage, only memory or mixing storage and memory. – Ismael Nov 6 '18 at 7:57

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