precedence lossage /pre's*-dens los'*j/ n.
[C
programmers] Coding error in an expression due to unexpected
grouping of arithmetic or logical operators by the compiler. Used
esp. of certain common coding errors in C due to the
nonintuitively low precedence levels of &
, |
,
^
, <<
, and >>
(for this reason, experienced C
programmers deliberately forget the language's baroque
precedence hierarchy and parenthesize defensively). Can always be
avoided by suitable use of parentheses. LISP fans enjoy
pointing out that this can't happen in their favorite
language, which eschews precedence entirely, requiring one to use
explicit parentheses everywhere. See aliasing bug, memory leak, memory smash, smash the stack, fandango on core, overrun screw.