Declare a variable in a switch

This is more of a question, but why is this not allowed?

Code:

---

switch ( choice )
{
case 1:
  int x = 5;
  break;
}

---

You would get somthing like:

Quote:

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main.cpp(85) : error C2360: initialization of 'x' is skipped by 'case' label

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In some cases, decalring a new variable within a case structure like the above would erradicate having to delcare the value at the start of the program.
Is there any reason why the language does not allow it?

Although I don't know why it isn't possible, there's an easy workaround to this.
This is what I do:

Code:

---

switch (choice)
{
    case 1:
    {
        int x = 5;
        break;
    }
}

---

You can declare a new variable before any case statements:

Code:

---

int main() {
   
    int choice;
    choice = 2;
    switch (choice) {
          int x;
          case 1:
                x=5;
                break;
          case 2:
                choice++;
          break;
    }
    return 0;
}

---

Edit: otherwise you get the interesting case where the variable x is in scope in case 2, but has not been declared and the initializer has therefore been skipped.

Thanks guys.

I was unaware of those work-arounds. :)

It is not allowed because otherwise the scope of x would last until the closing brace of the switch. That is, x would be in scope under other case labels too, but it would be possible to get to them with x being defined.

Same thing with goto statement which can't jump over variable definitions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by swgh

Is there any reason why the language does not allow it?

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Imagine:

Code:

---

switch(x)
{
    case 1:
        SomeClass foo;
        break;
    case 2:
        foo.doSomething();
        break;
}

---

If you hit case 2, you use an object which hasn't been constructed. Boom.