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C error “variable-sized object may not be initialized” [duplicate]
(3 answers)
gcc complains: variable-sized object may not be initialized
(3 answers)
Closed 2 years ago.
On initializing a Variable length array compiler gives an error message:
[Error] variable-sized object may not be initialized
Code snippet:
int n;
printf("Enter size of magic square: ");
scanf("%d",&n);
int board[n][n] = {0};
How should Variable Length arrays be initialized?
And why it's all elements are not initialized to 0
in the way give below;
int board[n][n];
board[n][n] = {0};
?
VLAs cannot be initialized by any form of initialization syntax. You have to assign the initial values to your array elements after the declaration in whichever way you prefer.
C11: 6.7.9 Initialization (p2 and p3):
No initializer shall attempt to provide a value for an object not contained within the entity being initialized.
The type of the entity to be initialized shall be an array of unknown size or a complete object type that is not a variable length array type.
You'll have to use memset
:
memset(board, 0, sizeof board);
1.You can simply initialize the array as follows-
int n;
printf("Enter size of magic square: ");
scanf("%d",&n);
int board[n][n];
for(int i=0; i<n; i++)
for(int j=0; j<n; j++)
{
board[i][j] = 0;
}
}
2. memset() should only be used when you want to set the array to "0".