Can const variables be used to define an array's initial size?

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electronics_guy

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Hi all,

What is wrong with the snippet:
Code: 
const int a=5;
int b[a]={1,2,3,4,5};

The compiler always throws an error with the code above.

What could be the problem? Plz help


Thanks in advance
 

you can not use a variable as array size but It may be a macro

Code C - [expand]
1
2
3

#define a 5
 
int b[a]={1,2,3,4,5};


already a is constant by this method you are saving a variable space also....
 

Logically it seems that it should work. But i suppose it depends on your compiler how its handled.

You could instead "#define a" if you know what it is at compile time.....
 

Many compilers like GCC will allow to use this, but the array should not be initialized. Its values can be changed/assigned afterwards in the program.
 








In ubuntu GCC
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Last edited:

Venkadesh_M said:
It is not compiler dependent It is c standard in all the compilers.
Click to expand...

Which C standard are you referring to ? I did not realise that all compilers behaved in exactly the same way..... That would surely obviate the need for any variety in C compilers.
 

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