When Must Local Variables Be Initialized?

[Mike Kelly]

The following code compiles fine. I would like to know why variable c, a local variable, is not explicitly initililized? Do local variables need to be initilized immediately or just before use in an expression? Thanks.
public class TestClass
{
static int a;
int b;
public TestClass()
{
int c;
c = a;
a++;
b += c;
}
public static void main(String args[]) { new TestClass(); }
}

[Corey McGlone]

Local variables must be initialized prior to their values being used. The following is legal:

int c;
int a = 10;
c = a;

while the following is illegal:

int c;
int a = c;

By assigning a to c, as you did, you initialized c. It doesn't need to be initialized immediately, just prior to its value being used in an expression.
I hope that helps,
Corey

[Mike Kelly]

Thanks Corey for clearing up that loose end.