[erlang-questions] Hidden binaries

[Loïc Hoguin]

On 05/28/2014 11:17 AM, Jesper Louis Andersen wrote:
>
> On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 10:26 AM, Lukas Larsson
> <lukas@REDACTED <mailto:lukas@REDACTED>> wrote:
>
>     Binaries can also be present in ets objects and messages in
>     processes' message queues. I'm sure there are some other places as
>     well, but those should be the major ones.
>
>
> This is a common case. Say you have a binary of size 1024 bytes and you
> pick out an identifier in it which is 8 bytes. The identifier is now a
> sub-binary which keeps the large binary around. If you stick the
> identifier somewhere, you will be "wasting" 1024-8 bytes.

Actually, and correct me if I'm wrong, but the sub binary optimization 
breaks when you stick the identifier somewhere, so it ends up being 
copied automatically.

-- 
Loïc Hoguin
http://ninenines.eu