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  • What is the use of extern keyword in c ?

    hare singh nayak

    Member

    Updated: Oct 25, 2024
    Views: 990
    hiiii CEan


    there is compilation error in first program here even out is a global variable but it is not for main
    and in second program out is also declare globally but out put is 100 because of extern so can any one explain me how extern work in this program.

    main()
    {
    printf("%d", out);
    }
    int out=100;
    Answer:
    Compiler error: undefined symbol out in function main.

    and

    main()

    {
    extern out;
    printf("%d", out);
    }
    int out=100;
    Answer:
    100
    0
    Replies
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Replies

  • Ankita Katdare

    Administrator • Sep 9, 2012

    #-Link-Snipped-#

    In your first program you get a compiler error: undefined symbol out in function main, because according to the syntax a variable is available for use only from the point of declaration. Even though 'out' is a global variable, it is not available for main. Hence an error.

    Whereas in the second program, you get the correct output because the 'extern' keyword extends the visibility of the C variables or functions.

    To understand how external variables relate to the extern keyword, it is necessary to know the difference between defining and declaring a variable.
    When a variable is defined, the compiler allocates memory for that variable and possibly also initializes its contents to some value.
    When a variable is declared, the compiler requires that the variable be defined elsewhere.

    In this case, 'extern' makes sure that the variable 'out' is available in 'main' function.
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  • optimystix@

    Member • Sep 9, 2012

    extern
    Allows one module of your program to access a global variable or function declared in another module of your program.😀
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  • sulochana anand

    Member • Sep 9, 2012

    extern variables are global variables.it can b used across different files.
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