Variables in C++

February 18, 2023

Variables

Here, in this page we will discuss about the variables in C++. A variable is a memory unit that is capable of storing data which can be modified (rewritten) at any point of time in a program. Simply a variable is a name given to a memory location.

Variables in C++ img

Variables in C++

A variable may have the following –

  • Variable Declaration
  • Variable definition (initialization)

In C++, all the variables must be declared before use.

Let us look at both of them in detail –

Variables in C++

C++ Introduction

History of C++

Structure of a C++ Program

String in C++

Program to check armstrong number or not

Variable Declaration & Definition

Declaration

Variable declaration is the notification to the program/programmer that a particular type of memory may be required and we plan to call that memory with some name.

  • Memory creation (as per specified datatypes) happens at the time of declaration itself.
  • But the variables may have garbage values.
  • Variables can not be used before declaration

Example

int a,b,c;

Example program to demonstrate variable declaration

Run 
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    int var; // variable declaration
    
    cout << "Value:" << var << endl; // garbage value
    cout << "Address of var: " << &var << endl; // a's assigned address
    cout << "Size of var: " << sizeof(var) << " bytes"; // allocated memory in bytes
    
    return 0;
}
Output
Value var: 10
Value: var2: 10.25

Variable Definiton/Initialization

In this stage, the user assigns value as per the requirement within the memory bounds i.e garbage value is overridden

Example

//declaration
int a;
float b;

// definition/initialization later
a = 10;
b = 78.9;

Example program to demonstrate variable initialization

Run 
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    int var; //variable declaration
    cout << "Value: " << var << endl; // garbage
    
    var = 3;  // variable initialization/definition
    cout << "var value: " << var << endl;
    
    var = 5 + var;  //data overriding
    cout << "New var value: " << var << endl;
    
    return 0;
}
Output
Value: 0
var value: 3
New var value: 8

Declaration cum initialization 

Variable can be initialized at the time of declaration itself

Example

Run 
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // declaration & initialization at same time
    int var = 10;
    float var2 = 10.25;
    
    cout << "Value var: " << var << endl; 
    cout << "Value: var2: " << var2 << endl; 
    
    return 0;
}
Output
Value var: 10
Value: var2: 10.25

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