Initialization (programming): Difference between revisions

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In [[computer programming]], '''initialization''' is the assignment of an initial value for a [[data object]] or variable. The waymanner howin which initialization is performed depends on [[programming language]], as well as type, storage class, etc., of an object to be initialized. Programming constructs which perform initialization are typically called '''initializers''' and '''initializer lists'''. Initialization is distinct from (and preceded by) [[declaration]], although the two can sometimes be conflated in practice.

Initialization is done either by statically embedding the value at compile time, or else by assignment at [[Run time (program lifecycle phase)|run time]]. A section of code that performs such initialization is generally known as "initialization code" and may include other, one-time-only, functions such as opening files. Setting a memory ___location to [[hexadecimal]] zeroes is also sometimes known as "clearing" and is often performed by an [[exclusive or]] instruction (both operands specifying the same variable), at [[machine code]] level, since it requires no additional memory access.