[See http://www.geocities.com/vijoeyz/faq/c/padding.txt]

    All modern CPUs expect that the fundamental types --
int's, float's and 
long's -- are stored in the memory at their natural
boundary; typically, at
addresses that are multiples of their length.  Some CPU work
efficiently if the
memory is properly aligned, and some can work in either case.  

    For the following examples, let us assume:

        sizeof (int)   == 4
        sizeof (char)  == 1
        sizeof (float) == 4

    When a C compiler processes a structure, it adds padding
bit(s)/byte(s), if 
required, between the members to ensure proper alignment. 
Consider the 
following scenario:

> What is the difference between the following structures:
> 
> struct pad1
> {
> int a;
> char c;
> float f;
> };
> 

"a" and "f" should occur at an address multiple of 4,
whereas "c" can take
any -- odd or even -- address.  So, the structure appears in
the memory as 
shown:

 ___________________
| a0 | a1 | a2 | a3 |      4-byte alignement
 -------------------       P is padding byte
| c0 | P0 | P1 | P2 |
 -------------------
| f0 | f1 | f2 | f3 |
 -------------------

> and 
> 
> struct pad2
> {
> float f;
> int a;
> char c;
> };
> 
 ___________________
| f0 | f1 | f2 | f3 |      4-byte alignement
 -------------------       P is padding byte
| a0 | a1 | a2 | a3 |
 -------------------
| c0 | P0 | P1 | P2 |
 ------------------- 

    Following point are worth noting:

    *   The compiler also ensures that the structure as a
whole appears at an
            aligned address.  

    *   Padding does NOT occur at the beginning of a structure.

    *   The value of padding bytes or bits are
implementation defined.

> What is the use of padding?

    *   Padding is useful, for example, in conforming to
externally imposed 
            layouts of machine registers.

    *   The obvious advantage is efficient access by CPU.
    

> And finally what is ring buffer?Where is it used.Someone
pls. explain 
> in detail.

    * A buffer of data which is of fixed size; when it
fills, further data is
            placed back at the start of the buffer,
overwriting the old data, 
            in a "ring". Commonly used in device drivers.

    For more examples, use the Google the keyword "define:
ring buffer",
excluding the quotes.

structure padding is used to pad the data in 
such a way that it can be sent to external devices.
Sometimes, the data is padded in such a way
that it can be used on little endian vs big 
endian processors
Padding is done to fast access of data from memory.