11/28/2016
Variables&ConstantsinC++|Typesofvariables
Byte-Notes | Computer Science learning platform
Variables & Constants in C++
By Jawad Khan
20 / Jul / 2012
category:
Programming Fundamentals
Table of Contents
"A variable is a temporary container to store information, it is a named location in
computer memory where varying data like numbers and characters can be stored and
manipulatedduringtheexecutionoftheprogram".
1. Introduction
2. Types of Variables
Introduction
2.1. Local Variable
Somelanguageshavethemechanismtodeclareavariablewhenitisneededwithoutpre
2.2. Global Variable
pending by the data type. But C++ has no such mechanism. A variable must be
3. Declaration of Variable
declared before it is used. It is a must because the compiler wants to be aware of it.
3.0.1. For Example
When declaring a variable, a few naming conventions must be taken in consideration.
Python - 10
3.0.2. For Example
4. Variable attributes
5. Constants in C++
5.1. Integer Constants
5.2. Character Constants
5.3. String Constants
1. ItmuststartwithanEnglishalphabetcharacters,bothlowercaseanduppercase,including
underscore(notahyphen).[Link]
bealetteroradigit(09).
2. C++keywordslikemaion,case,class,if,else,do,while,for,tyedef,etccannotbeusedas
avariablenames.
3. Itmustbeuniquewithinthescope.
There are no restrictions on the length. Legal C++ variable names are hello_world, number but not 1number. C++ is a case
[Link],HELLO,hello,Hello,HellOaretreateddifferent.
Theunderscore_enhancesthereadabilityoflongvariablename.Thesecondandtheimportantthing,whichhasbeenmentioned,
[Link]
[Link]
1/6
11/28/2016
Variables&ConstantsinC++|Typesofvariables
prefertouseacamelnotationlikemy_Age,emp_Salary.Whicheverapproachisused,itmustbeconsistentthroughouttheprogram.
[Link],butmostlyusedatthestartofthe
function.
TypesofVariables
Basicallytherearetwotypesofvariables,namely
LocalVariable
GlobalVariable
LocalVariable
Thelocalvariableiscreatedwhenthefunctionsgetscontrolandisdestroyedwhenthecontroltransfersbacktothecaller.
GlobalVariable
[Link].
DeclarationofVariable
ThedeclarationofavariableissimpleinC++[Link], followed by at least a space, followed by the
[Link].
ForExample
intmy_Age
intmy_Salary
int_employee
Ifdifferentvariablesareusingthesamedatatypeonthesamelinearealsoallowd,butcaremustbetakentoseparatetwowitha
commaexceptthelastonethatwouldendwithasemicolon.
ForExample
intmy_Age,my_Salary,_employee
UnlikeC,declarationinC++arestatements,usingthisdefinition,variablesmaybedeclaredanywherewithintheprogram.
Anylegalvariablenamecanbeused,ithelpstogiveasensiblenamethatgiveyoufruitfulmeaningofwhattheyarebeingusedfor.
[Link],youshouldusenum1and
num2,[Link],whichcanpreventyoufromextra
[Link],C++programmerstendtoprefershortvariablenames.
Variableattributes
[Link]++,eachvariablehassixattributes,name,address,
type,value,[Link]
[Link],avariablenameisrequiredonthe
[Link]
2/6
11/28/2016
Variables&ConstantsinC++|Typesofvariables
[Link].
Tomakeissimpler,itisthedatatypeassociatedwiththatvariable.
[Link],avariableexistforshorttimethatis
[Link]
storageclassdependswhetheritisboundatcompiletimeorexecutiontimeandtheyarealsoknownasstaticbindinganddynamic
bindingrespectively.
ConstantsinC++
Weknowthatbeforetheexecution,avariablehasnameandtypeatexecutiontime,[Link]++
meansanunchangingvalueandeachconstanthasatypebutdoesnothavelocationexceptthestringconstant.
IntegerConstants
Integerconstants consist of one or more digits such as 0,1,2,3,4 or 115. Floating point constants contain a decimal point such as
4.15,10.05.Itcanalsobewritteninscientificnotationsuchas1E35means1*10^35or1E35means1*10^35.
CharacterConstants
[Link]
thefollowingtable.
SpecialCharacterConstants(EscapeSequence)
Constant Description
Constant Description
\a
Alarm
\\
Backslashitself
\b
Backspace
\'
SingleQuoteitself
\f
FormFeed
\''
doubleQuotesitself
\n
LineFeed
\?
questionMark
\r
CarriageReturn
\o
Nullterminationcharacter
\t
HorizontalTab
\0
OctalCode
\v
VerticalTab
\xh
HexadecimalCode
StringConstants
Stringconstantsconsistofcharactersenclosedindoublequotessuchas
Hello,World
The string is stored in the memory and the numeric value of that constant is the address of this memory. The string constant is
suffixedby\0,(thenullcharacter)bythecompiler.
BothCandC++useescapesequenceinthesamemannersuchas\[Link]
preceded by a backslash, which indicates a special sequence to the compiler. The compiler as a single character views each and
everyescapesequence.Itseemsandmayhavebeenexpectedthatanescapesequenceoccupies2byteswhichiswrong,itoccupies
onlyonebyte.
[Link]
3/6
11/28/2016
Variables&ConstantsinC++|Typesofvariables
Tags:
C++ Lecture Notes
SponsoredLinks
VisitingSingaporeOnABudget?HereAre34MichelinapprovedPlacesToEat
YoursSingapore
HowtoKillJointPainatHomeFast
ArthroPro
AreyoureadytoconquerAncientGreece?Already35millionplayers!
GrepolisOnlineFreeGame
Areyouastrategicthinker?Testyourskillswithmillionsofaddictedplayers!
SpartaFreeOnlineGame
WeightLossForTheLazy!UpTo20KgIn4Weeks!
[Link]
'DogWhisperer'FacesCrueltyProbe
ReutersTV
0Comments
Recommend
ByteNotes
Share
Login
SortbyBest
Startthediscussion
Bethefirsttocomment.
Subscribe d AddDisqustoyoursiteAddDisqusAdd
[Link]
Privacy
4/6
11/28/2016
Variables&ConstantsinC++|Typesofvariables
byte-notes
[Link]/+Byte-notes
Follow
+1
+ 277
CustomSearch
SEARCH
[Link]
5/6
11/28/2016
Variables&ConstantsinC++|Typesofvariables
Poll
Do you like the new design? How about the Tech blog Section
Yes
71%
No
13%
Needs some improvement (Tell us in comments plz)
16%
Total votes: 1435
Older polls
User login
Username *
Password *
[Link]
6/6
