CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++variables
Mateen Ulhaq
Mateen Ulhaq

Reputation: 27201

May I initialize a global variable with the result of a function call?

Is the following code legal?

int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }

int some_global_variable = add(1, 2);

int main() { /* ... */ }

Upvotes: 19

Views: 5820

Answers (1)

Lightness Races in Orbit
Lightness Races in Orbit

Reputation: 385098

Yes. Yes, it is.

Static initializers may call functions, as long as they're in scope.

[dcl.decl] (2003 wording, 8/2):

Initial values can also be specified in a declarator; initializers are discussed in 8.5 and 12.6.

[dcl.init] (2003 wording, 8.5/2):

Automatic, register, static, and external variables of namespace scope can be initialized by arbitrary expressions involving literals and previously declared variables and functions.

(Don't be misled by the lack of the static keyword, which has all sorts of meanings. Your variable myvar is declared at namespace scope, and thus has static storage duration.)

Upvotes: 21

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