C++: A Dialog Programming with the C++ Standard Library

Scope of Variables

Now let's look at another distinct way to categorize variables: the scope of a variable is the part of the program in which it can be accessed. Here, we are concerned with local scope and global scope. Variables with global scope are called global variables. These variables are defined outside any function and therefore by default can be accessed from any function.^[27] Global variables are always in the static storage class, as we have already seen. Variables with local scope are called local variables. These variables are defined in a function and are accessible only while that function is executing; they can be either static or auto and are auto by default.

^[27] Variables can be defined either inside a function (local variables) ...