> even if the variable is declared static No, for static even padding bytes are zero. For automatic, yes it may effectively turn a = {} to a.member = 0, leavi

> even if the variable is declared static No, for static even padding bytes are zero. For automatic, yes it may effectively turn a = {} to a.member = 0, leaving the padding bytes uninitialised. Or on copies like a = b it may not copy padding bytes.