an expression that denotes an area of storage

an expression that describes the location of an object used in the program

an expression that designates (refers to) an object

an expression that refers to a location

an expression which may be assigned a value, such as variables

an expression (with an object type or an incomplete type other than void) that designates an object

an object which can be assigned to

an operand that can be on the left side of an expression

An expression that can appear on the left side of an assignment operator. In most languages, lvalues can be variables or array elements. In awk field designator can also be used as an lvalue.

n. Originally, an expression which could appear on the left-hand sign of an assignment operator, hence, something that can perhaps be assigned to. More precisely, something that has a location, as opposed to a transient value. In the assignment a = b; is an lvalue, and is not fetched, but is written to. Compare rvalue. See also question 6.7. See ANSI Sec. 3.2.2.1 (especially footnote 31) or ISO Sec. 6.2.2.1.

(1.) An expression that represents a data object that can be both examined and altered. (2.) The left-hand part of an expression.