Need Help on variable initialization

[Wee Keong Soh]

Public class Sample{

public static void main(String [] args){
int weight = 10; double thePrice;
if (weight >= 10) 
thePrice = weight*10;
System.out.println("The price is " + thePrice");
}

}

For the above code segment, I have not initialized the variable thePrice. The if statement will always be true here in this case and thePrice will be initialized to be weight*10. However, this would not work unless i take away the if statement. Can anyone tell me why?

Thanks

[Campbell Ritchie]

Because the compiler cannot verify that you cannot change weight before the "if". Try changing "int weight" to "final int weight", then the compiler can verify that weight cannot change.

[Wee Keong Soh]

Thanks a million! This is crystal clear now..

[Campbell Ritchie]

You're welcome