Initialization (programming): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Assignment of an initial value for variable}}

In [[computer programming]], '''initialization''' (or '''initialisation)''' is the [[Assignment (computer science)|assignment]] of an initial value for a [[data object]] or variable. The manner in which initialization is performed depends on the [[programming language]], as well as the type, storage class, etc., of an object to be initialized. Programming constructs which perform Hii I am okk initialization are typically called '''initializers''' and '''initializer lists'''. Initialization is distinct from (and preceded by) [[declaration (computer programming)|declaration]], although the two can sometimes be conflated in practice. The complement of initialization is [[finalization]], which is primarily used for objects, but not variables.

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; in [[object-oriented programming]], initialization code may be part of a ''[[Constructor (object-oriented programming)|constructor]]'' (class method) or an ''initializer'' (instance method). 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.