Default values

[Anvi Dixit]

Hello

please find below the code:

 
 public class Sample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
short x=0;
byte i;    
System.out.println("i "+i);
}
}  

now here i didnt intialize the variable keeping in my that the default value fo the int variable is 0. But i am getting an error (a red line) at line no 5 .
Please help me out though it is a very basic question.
Thanks
Anvi

[Anupam Sinha]

Do all primitive variables get default values? Read about it a bit and I am sure it would go a long way in helping you about default value assignment.

[Andy Morris]

Local variables are not assigned default values, instance variables are.

Therefore having an int defined at that scope would not get the default value of 0 either. It would however if you'd put it outside of your method as an instance variable.

I'd recommend reading the compiler error, as it will say something like variable i may not have been initialised.

[Asha Lilliete]

All the local variables must be initialized.
where as a member variable neednt be, as it is initialiaed automatically.
If you initialize the byte b and compile it ,
the error should not occur.

[Joe San]

Ok,

Why is that only local variables are not assigned default values and instance variables are?