C - character array initialization

Question

How does the initialization happen in cases 2, 3, 4, 5 below. 1 will contain garbage.

char x[16];
char x[16] = {0};
char x[16] = {0, };
char x[16] = {1};
char x[16] = {1, };

Philipp · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-10 23:25:47Z

7

If you use the brace initializer syntax with arrays, any additional elements not mentioned in the initializer list are initialized with zeros.

answered Aug 10, 2012 at 23:25

Philipp

50.1k12 gold badges88 silver badges112 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Note that C++ allows "char c[16] = {};" to fill everything with zeros.

Abhinav · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-10 23:32:12Z

4

@Philipp is correct.

A quick test gave me this:

btw that's a great link for running test code.

answered Aug 10, 2012 at 23:32

Abhinav

2,0851 gold badge19 silver badges31 bronze badges

Hi! Welcome to StackOverflow. This should be a comment. Please read the FAQ.

I did not have 50 rep to add a comment to someone else's post, but now I have :)