What is the difference between the declaration and the definition of a variable?

drnaga

Dr.Naga Rathinam
What is the difference between the declaration and the definition of a variable?

The definition is the one that actually allocates space, and provides an initialization value, if any.

There can be many declarations, but there must be exactly one definition. A definition tells the compiler to set aside storage for the variable. A declaration makes the variable known to parts of the program that may wish to use it. A variable might be defined and declared in the same statement.
 
Back
Top