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How To: Use Variables In C++ Programming

Variables are containers for storing data values in different types. These values are mostly stored in the memory location (RAM) of device (PC, tablet, mobile, IoT…). A variable can be defined in it’s type and with it’s name with a given value, this variable name can be used to read it’s value in memory location or to write a new value in to this memory location. Type of the variable can not be changed in runtime but it’s value can be copied to another variable in another type.

In general we can summarize setting a variable in this format,

Here are most used variable types used in C++;

bool is used to define Boolean type variables, it has true or false value. Can be used like on/off switches.

int is used to define integer variables, here are few samples,

float is used to define single-precision floating point variables.

double is used to define double-precision floating point variables.

char is used to define one byte character that means it can have 0 to 255

char[] is used to define more than one byte characters (these are also called as array of chars, they are ASCII format strings)

wchar_t is a wide character type of char and it is used to define two byte characters that supports Unicode characters

string or String is used to stores texts in modern way, such as “abcd1234”. String values are surrounded by double quotes

UnicodeString is used to define Unicode Strings, this is the most modern way to define string variables

auto is used to define variables automatically by the initializer

void Represents the absence of type. Generally used to define functions which has no returning value.

Global and Local Variables

The placement of variable definitions as given above is very important. Generally they should be declared before all, at least before the usage. You can declare all given types above as a global variable or local variable. Global Variables are defined in the main code lines out of any functions, generally after headers or before the main() function, and they can be used in any function inside. Local Variables are only used inside the function that they were declared.

For example if you define int gx = 15; before the main() or outside of any function, it is a global variable, if you define int lx = 20; inside a function i.e. in main() function it is a local variable. These can be float, bool, double, string or any type defined by user. See this example below,

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About author

Dr. Yilmaz Yoru has 35+ years of coding with more than 30+ programming languages, mostly C++ on Windows, Android, Mac-OS, iOS, Linux, and some other operating systems. He graduated and received his MSc and PhD degrees from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Eskisehir Osmangazi University. He is the founder and CEO of ESENJA LLC Company. His interests are Programming, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Artificial Intelligence, 2D & 3D Designs, and high-end innovations.
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