Initializing Constant Static Array In Header File

c++ arrays initialization header-files
user174084 picture user174084 · Jan 22, 2010 · Viewed 78.9k times · Source

I have just found out that the following is not valid.

//Header File
class test
{
    const static char array[] = { '1', '2', '3' };
};

Where is the best place to initialize this?

Answer

Mike Seymour picture Mike Seymour · Jan 22, 2010

The best place would be in a source file

// Header file
class test
{
    const static char array[];
};

// Source file
const char test::array[] = {'1','2','3'};

You can initialize integer types in the class declaration like you tried to do; all other types have to be initialized outside the class declaration, and only once.

Related questions

Initialization of all elements of an array to one default value in C++?

C++ Notes: Array Initialization has a nice list over initialization of arrays. I have a int array[100] = {-1}; expecting it to be full with -1's but its not, only first value is and the rest are 0's mixed with …

Read More
Array[n] vs Array[10] - Initializing array with variable vs real number

I am having the following issue with my code: int n = 10; double tenorData[n] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}; Returns the following error: error: variable-sized object 'tenorData' may not be initialized Whereas using double tenorData[10] works. Anyone know why?

Read More
Declaring array of int

Is there any difference between these two declarations? int x[10]; vs. int* x = new int[10]; I suppose the former declaration (like the latter one) is a pointer declaration and both variables could be treated the same. Does it mean they …

Read More