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[Variable Scope & Qualifiers]


The const keyword stands for constant. It is a variable qualifier that modifies the behavior of the variable, making a variable "read-only". This means that the variable can be used just as any other variable of its type, but its value cannot be changed. You will get a compiler error if you try to assign a value to a const variable.

Constants defined with the const keyword obey the rules of variable scoping that govern other variables. This, and the pitfalls of using #define, makes the const keyword a superior method for defining constants and is preferred over using #define.

Example Code

const float pi = 3.14;
float x;
// ....
x = pi * 2; // it's fine to use consts in math
pi = 7;     // illegal - you can't write to (modify) a constant

Notes and Warnings

#define or const

You can use either const or #define for creating numeric or string constants. For arrays, you will need to use const. In general const is preferred over #define for defining constants.

See also