C++ Variables
Instructor: Krishna Mahavadi
Variables in C++
• Allow storage of data internally for the program
• Allow storage of information from the user
• There are different types of variables which
service different needs
• Examples:
–Variables that store texts
– Variables that store integers (positive & negative
numbers)
–Variables that store decimals (floating point numbers)
Declare/Create variables
• In order to use a variable in C++, we have to first declare i.e.,
create it
• Model:
variable_type variable_name;
• variable_type: The type of a variable, depends on the
type of data we want to store.
• variable_name: The name of a variable, how we want to
refer to it in the rest of the program.
Legal Variable Names
• C++ rules for legal variable names
– 1. Must start with a letter, can end with numbers
– 2. Must not have a space in the name
– 3. Can not have special characters
• Only allowed character is "_ "(underscore)
– 4. Must not be a C++ keyword
• Suggestions for variable names
– Variable names should be meaningful
– Variable names should be easy to read
Illegal Variable Names
• Example of illegal variable names
–int number of cakes;
• Has spaces
– int 1number;
• Begins with a number
– int discount%;
• Contains a symbol
– double int;
• Contains a keyword, int
– int string;
• Although not a keyword, it will not allow us to declare
and use string variables.
Important Note
• C++ is case sensitive!!
• Examples:
– int hello; //declares a variable hello
– int Hello; //declares another variable Hello
– Int hello; //error, Int is not a C++ type
– Double amount; //error, Double is not a type
Types of variables
String
• Variable declaration
– string name;
– string address;
– string day;
• Examples of strings
– name = “Vincent";
– address = "65-30 Kissena Blvd.";
– day = "2";
• Examples of INVALID strings
– name = ' Vincent ';
– address = 65-30 Kissena Blvd.;
– day = 2;
int (integers)
• Variable declaration
– int number;
– int year;
– int age;
• Examples of integers
– number = 14;
– year = 2011;
– age = 30;
• Examples of INVALID int
– number = "14";
– year = '2011';
– age = "thirty";
– age = 34.5
double (decimals, high precision)
• Variable declaration
– double pi;
– double e;
• Examples of double (decimals)
– pi = 3.1415926535;
– e = 2.71828;
• Examples of INVALID double
– pi = "3.141";
– pi = ' 3.141 ';
char (characters)
• Variable declaration
– char c;
– char newline;
– char code;
• Examples of char (characters)
– c = 'c';
– newline = '\n';
– code = 65; //max number is 127
• Example of INVALID char
– code = 456;
– newline = "\n";
bool(boolean: true or false)
• Variable declaration
– bool reply;
– bool answer;
• Examples of bool(bloolean)
– answer = true;
– answer = false;
– reply = 0;
– reply = 1;
• Examples of INVALID bool
– answer = “true”;
– reply = ‘0’; //value becomes true