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 way how 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.

==C family of languages==