C++ Syntax Highlighter related question

JdS · #1 25-Oct-2004, 06:03

When you name a variable in C or C++ what are the valid "characters" one can use?

Obviously alphabets are okay, I assume the underscore is also okay... what else?

So, the following is valid variable names?

Code:

something;
_somethingelse;

davekw7x · #2 25-Oct-2004, 07:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by JdS

When you name a variable in C or C++ what are the valid "characters" one can use?

Obviously alphabets are okay, I assume the underscore is also okay... what else?

So, the following is valid variable names?

Code:

something;
_somethingelse;

Legal characters in variable names are: Letters, digits. The first character must be a letter. And, of course names are case-sensitive. Key words (if, else, for, float, etc.) are reserved.

Now, the underscore counts as a letter, but note that the C standard says that names with two underscores in a row and names that start with an underscore are reserved for use by the implementation (compiler, linker).

I have never seen a compiler that doesn't allow user names that begin with an underscore. I don't see how they could enforce this since standard library headers have something like the following:

CPP / C++ / C Code:

#ifndef __STDIO_H
#define __STDIO_H

/* stuff here */
#endif

I don't want to seem too pedantic, but I would avoid having any user named item begin with an underscore.

Regards,

Dave

JdS · #3 25-Oct-2004, 07:47

Thank you Dave.

What about the dollar sign? Maybe a variable named $myvar?

davekw7x · #4 25-Oct-2004, 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by JdS

Thank you Dave.

What about the dollar sign? Maybe a variable named $myvar?

Nope. Not in C or C++

Regards,

Dave

JdS · #5 25-Oct-2004, 08:00

Thank you again and I am moving this to the GIDForums™ Feedback forum where it really belongs.

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