CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++c
Puttaraju
Puttaraju

Reputation: 481

Run time C++ array initialization question

Why can't we initialize array size using non-const size in global area....outside main() .... 

//outside main - global
int val=5;
int arr[val];

int main()
{

}

this gives error 

7:12: error: array bound is not an integer constant before ']' token
 In function 'int main()':

But if i move this same code inside main/body of function error disappears....

there is no error and it compiles fine...

int main()
{
   int val=5;
   int arr[val];
}

Also this works fine inside body of a function

void fn(int val)
{
    int arr[val];
}

int main()
{

fn(5);

}

Confused and how does moving array size can't be intialized only outside main?

Upvotes: 3

Views: 4798

Answers (2)

Peter
Peter

Reputation: 36627

The first sample, at file scope

int val=5;
int arr[val];

int main()

is illegal on both C and C++. Variables at file scope must be defined (created) before their first use, and continue to exist until the program ends - which also means that, once created, an array cannot be resized. In the case of arrays, this means (among other things) that their dimension must be known at compile time. Using a variable as an array dimension runs afoul of the need for the size of a static to be known at compile time - for example, the value of val could be changed at run time (e.g. in main()) which will be AFTER arr is created.

The second example

void fn(int val)
{
     int arr[val];
}

is legal in C (from 1999), because arr is of automatic (not static) storage duration. It will be created when the function body is entered, and cease to exist when the function returns. This is called a "variable length array" or VLA, because the number of elements is determined by a value of a variable (val) at run time.

VLAs were also not supported before the 1999 C standard.

In C++, VLAs are illegal. Period. However, some C++ compilers do support such a feature as a non-standard extension. In C++, rather than using arrays, a standard container (e.g. std::vector<int>) is preferred for various reasons, including ability to resize it at run time.

Upvotes: 4

NoSenseEtAl
NoSenseEtAl

Reputation: 30138

For the array inside function:

you are relying on GCC extension, if you add -pedantic you will get this warning:

warning: ISO C++ forbids variable length array 'arr' [-Wvla]

So C++ does not support variable length arrays, suggested alternative is std::vector.

For the array outside function:

you need to add const before int. Yes I know compiler could in theory figure out that val is never changed, but for some reason(nobody thought to add that to standard, or there are good reasons not to do it) you are required to add const.

Upvotes: 3

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