C Basics - Static Storage Class in C

Keyword	static
Storage	Data Memory
Default Initial Value	Zero
Scope	Local to the block in which the variable is defined.
Life	Value of the variable persists between different function calls.

int main( ) 
{ 
    increment( ) ; 
    increment( ) ; 
    increment( ) ;
    return 0; 
} 

int increment( ) 
{ 
    static int i = 1 ; 
    printf ( "%d\n", i ) ; 
    i = i + 1 ; 
    return 0;
}

The output of the above programs would be:

1 
2 
3

static variables are local to the block in which they are declared. The static variable is initialized once and the value of a static variable persists even after the control goes out of function. If the control comes back to the same function again the static variables have the same values they had last time around. Therefore, making local variables static allows them to maintain their values between function calls.

The static modifier may also be applied to global variables. When this is done, it causes that variable's scope to be restricted to the file in which it is declared.

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Related topics:
Overview of Storage Class in C   |   Auto Storage Class in C   |   Register Storage Class in C   |   Extern Storage Class in C   |   Summary of Storage Class in C

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List of topics: C Programming

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