Undeclared/un-initialized variable

**jadedreality** · 10-25-2007

What is the difference between an undeclared variable & an un-initialized variable?

The example I have is

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
main() {
     int prime = 21;

     for (k = 1; i < prime; k++) {
          if (k < prime) {
               printf("k is less than prime.\n");
          }
     }
}

That is the example that I have been given (I have to tell what is wrong with it) and I can see what the problem is, I just am not sure if it's undeclared or uninitialized because I'm not sure of the difference.

thanks.

**Elysia** · 10-25-2007

Uninitialized:

Code:

int prime;

Initialized:

Code:

int prime = 21;

Avoid unitialized variables because they can have any value. Instead initialize them before using them. If you're assigning them directly without using it, that's fine. Some compilers will generate a warning if you don't initialize variables and some compilers will also throw an error if you use an uninitialized variable when running your app.

But what is this undeclared? Variables are declared before you use them:

Code:

int prime = 21;

Variable prime is now declared. You can't use variables without declaring them first:

Code:

int x;
x = 7; // OK, variable declared.
y = 6; // Not OK, variable not declared; compiler will complain.

Or was there something else you wanted to know?

**jadedreality** · 10-25-2007

Originally Posted by Elysia

Uninitialized:

Code:

int prime;

Initialized:

Code:

int prime = 21;

Avoid unitialized variables because they can have any value. Instead initialize them before using them. If you're assigning them directly without using it, that's fine. Some compilers will generate a warning if you don't initialize variables and some compilers will also throw an error if you use an uninitialized variable when running your app.

But what is this undeclared? Variables are declared before you use them:

Code:

int prime = 21;

Variable prime is now declared. You can't use variables without declaring them first:

Code:

int x;
x = 7; // OK, variable declared.
y = 6; // Not OK, variable not declared; compiler will complain.

Or was there something else you wanted to know?

Thanks, that helped .

**Daved** · 10-26-2007

So is the problem an uninitialized variable or an undeclared variable? Where is the problem?

**laserlight** · 10-26-2007

k and i were not declared before use.

**Daved** · 10-26-2007

I think this was a homework assignment, so perhaps just giving the answer might not be the best idea.

**laserlight** · 10-26-2007

I think this was a homework assignment, so perhaps just giving the answer might not be the best idea.

hmm... I assumed that you were glossing over the OP's post since the OP already replied "Thanks, that helped ."

It could be a trick to get later users to answer the question outright, but if so, you made me fall for jadedreality's trick

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