Local variable: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:19, 10 April 2005

Revision as of 04:52, 27 April 2005

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In [[computer science]], a '''local variable''' is a [[variable]] that is given ''local [[Scope (computer science)|scope]]''. Such variables are accessible only from the [[Subroutine|function]] or [[block]] in which it is declared.

Local variables are special because in most languages they are stored on the [[function stack]] directly. This means that when a [[recursive function]] calls itself, local variables in each instance of the function are given separate memory [[address space]]. Hence variables of this scope can be declared, written to, and read, without any risk of [[Side-effect (computer science)|side-effects]].