Thread: Natural Loop Varible

  1. #16
    l'Anziano DavidP's Avatar
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    For a single loop I either use i or x. I use x fairly often, especially when iterating an array, because I often think about it as if I am iterating over the "x-axis". Consequently, with matrixes, I often use x and y. I guess this comes from doing a lot of work with graphics. z is also used if it is nested another time.

    Other than that I use i, j, and k fairly often as well. I usually kind of alternate between x,y,z and i,j,k.

    When a LOT of loops are in order...I will go off to l, n, p, a, b, and c.

    With iterators, usually something like iter, iter1, iter2, or maybe myIter, myIter1, myIter2. I tend to put the prefix of "my" on a lot of variables...it is a thing that has rubbed off on me since high school when we would work a lot with the "AP classes" for strings, vectors, and matrixes...and they named their variables like that.
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  2. #17
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    I've tried to get away from single-letter identifiers, especially if I've got nested loops. On the first code-writing pass, I'll usually use an i, but it will quickly get replaced by something more descriptive. It's a lot easier to suddenly see logic errors (why in the world am I adding those two indexes together?) when you don't have to juggle a mental key around in your head to remember which index goes to which loop.
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  3. #18
    The superhaterodyne twomers's Avatar
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    I use iter for iterators too

  4. #19
    For Narnia! Sentral's Avatar
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    Wow... 17 posts about a loop variable... *cry*
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  5. #20
    Registered User divineleft's Avatar
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    index

    then endex for nested. it's confusing, but i have to do it. i think i may try using i-j-k-l-m, though

  6. #21
    Supermassive black hole cboard_member's Avatar
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    If I'm using iterators I usually name them "begin" and "end".
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  7. #22
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    Many iterators are not indices, in which case the loop variable names i, j, k don't make sense. If using a loop to iterate through each element in a container, then I avoid using an index if possible, and instead name the iterator curr_type. i, j, k ideally only comes up if I'm actually doing something numerical.


    Code:
    for (curr_node = begin; curr_node != NULL; curr_node = curr_node -> next);
    Code:
    for (curr_char = string_name; *curr_char != '\0'; ++curr_char);
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  8. #23
    S Sang-drax's Avatar
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    Arrgh! Loop variables should be declared in the for-construct! Using "n.a" and weird constructs like that really cripples the compiler's ability to optimize your code.
    Last edited by Sang-drax : Tomorrow at 02:21 AM. Reason: Time travelling

  9. #24
    Registered User Queatrix's Avatar
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    I never thought about iterators, but now that it's mentioned I use n for them too. Though I must admit it gets confusing some times when I start crossing indexes and iterators like this:
    Code:
    loop: n.a
    iterator: n.b
    nested loop: n.c
    nested loop: n.d
    iterator: n.e
    nested loop: n.f

  10. #25
    Just Lurking Dave_Sinkula's Avatar
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    Might I ask why you choose to stray from the i, j, k "convention"? Your method seems like extra overhead and added obfuscation for no real gain.
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  11. #26
    Registered User Queatrix's Avatar
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    I really don't know, I guess it's just one of my many unexplainable habits.

    And I don't have to worry about it interfiring with "imported" *ahem* code.
    Last edited by Queatrix; 04-04-2007 at 10:05 PM.

  12. #27
    Just Lurking Dave_Sinkula's Avatar
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    M'kay. I only bring it up because in a number of situations if you showed me that in a job interview, I'd consider you in need of re-training, and a lesser applicant -- unless you could explain a bit better than Idunno. If that's a habit you want to keep, that's your business.
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  13. #28
    Lean Mean Coding Machine KONI's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DavidP View Post
    For a single loop I either use i or x. I use x fairly often, especially when iterating an array, because I often think about it as if I am iterating over the "x-axis". Consequently, with matrixes, I often use x and y. I guess this comes from doing a lot of work with graphics. z is also used if it is nested another time.

    Other than that I use i, j, and k fairly often as well. I usually kind of alternate between x,y,z and i,j,k.

    When a LOT of loops are in order...I will go off to l, n, p, a, b, and c.

    With iterators, usually something like iter, iter1, iter2, or maybe myIter, myIter1, myIter2. I tend to put the prefix of "my" on a lot of variables...it is a thing that has rubbed off on me since high school when we would work a lot with the "AP classes" for strings, vectors, and matrixes...and they named their variables like that.
    this is exactly what I'm doing too

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