Chapter 12 Variables

112.3.1 Initially assigned variables

2The following categories of variables are classified as initially assigned:

3• Static variables.

4• Instance variables of class instances.

5• Instance variables of initially assigned struct variables.

6• Array elements.

7• Value parameters.

8• Reference parameters.

9• Variables declared by a catch clause, a foreach statement, or a using statement.

1012.3.2 Initially unassigned variables

11The following categories of variables are classified as initially unassigned:

12• Instance variables of initially unassigned struct variables.

13• Output parameters, including the this variable of struct instance constructors without a constructor

14initializer.

15• Local variables, except those declared in a catch clause, a foreach statement, or a using statement.

1612.3.3 Precise rules for determining definite assignment

17In order to determine that each used variable is definitely assigned, the compiler shall use a process that is

18equivalent to the one described in this subclause.

19The compiler processes the body of each function member that has one or more initially unassigned

20variables. For each initially unassigned variable v, the compiler determines a definite assignment state for v

21at each of the following points in the function member:

22• At the beginning of each statement

23• At the end point (§15.1) of each statement

24• On each arc which transfers control to another statement or to the end point of a statement

25• At the beginning of each expression

26• At the end of each expression

27The definite assignment state of v can be either:

28• Definitely assigned. This indicates that on all possible control flows to this point, v has been assigned a

29value.

30• Not definitely assigned. For the state of a variable at the end of an expression of type bool, the state of a

31variable that isn’t definitely assigned might (but doesn’t necessarily) fall into one of the following sub-

32states:

33o Definitely assigned after true expression. This state indicates that v is definitely assigned if the

34boolean expression evaluated as true, but is not necessarily assigned if the boolean expression

35evaluated as false.

36o Definitely assigned after false expression. This state indicates that v is definitely assigned if the

37boolean expression evaluated as false, but is not necessarily assigned if the boolean expression

38evaluated as true.

39The following rules govern how the state of a variable v is determined at each location.

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112.3.3.1 General rules for statements

2• v is not definitely assigned at the beginning of a function member body.

3• v is definitely assigned at the beginning of any unreachable statement.

4• The definite assignment state of v at the beginning of any other statement is determined by checking the

5definite assignment state of v on all control flow transfers that target the beginning of that statement. If

6(and only if) v is definitely assigned on all such control flow transfers, then v is definitely assigned at the

7beginning of the statement. The set of possible control flow transfers is determined in the same way as

8for checking statement reachability (§15.1).

9• The definite assignment state of v at the end point of a block, checked, unchecked, if, while, do,

10for, foreach, lock, using, or switch statement is determined by checking the definite assignment

11state of v on all control flow transfers that target the end point of that statement. If v is definitely

12assigned on all such control flow transfers, then v is definitely assigned at the end point of the statement.

13Otherwise, v is not definitely assigned at the end point of the statement. The set of possible control flow

14transfers is determined in the same way as for checking statement reachability (§15.1).

1512.3.3.2 Block statements, checked, and unchecked statements

16The definite assignment state of v on the control transfer to the first statement of the statement list in the

17block (or to the end point of the block, if the statement list is empty) is the same as the definite assignment

18statement of v before the block, checked, or unchecked statement.

1912.3.3.3 Expression statements

20For an expression statement stmt that consists of the expression expr:

21• v has the same definite assignment state at the beginning of expr as at the beginning of stmt.

22• If v if definitely assigned at the end of expr, it is definitely assigned at the end point of stmt; otherwise, it

23is not definitely assigned at the end point of stmt.

2412.3.3.4 Declaration statements

25• If stmt is a declaration statement without initializers, then v has the same definite assignment state at the

26end point of stmt as at the beginning of stmt.

27• If stmt is a declaration statement with initializers, then the definite assignment state for v is determined

28as if stmt were a statement list, with one assignment statement for each declaration with an initializer (in

29the order of declaration).

3012.3.3.5 If statements

31For an if statement stmt of the form:

32if ( expr ) then-stmt else else-stmt

33• v has the same definite assignment state at the beginning of expr as at the beginning of stmt.

34• If v is definitely assigned at the end of expr, then it is definitely assigned on the control flow transfer to

35then-stmt and to either else-stmt or to the end-point of stmt if there is no else clause.

36• If v has the state “definitely assigned after true expression” at the end of expr, then it is definitely

37assigned on the control flow transfer to then-stmt, and not definitely assigned on the control flow

38transfer to either else-stmt or to the end-point of stmt if there is no else clause.

39• If v has the state “definitely assigned after false expression” at the end of expr, then it is definitely

40assigned on the control flow transfer to else-stmt, and not definitely assigned on the control flow transfer

41to then-stmt. It is definitely assigned at the end-point of stmt if and only if it is definitely assigned at the

42end-point of then-stmt.

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Chapter 12 Variables

1• Otherwise, v is considered not definitely assigned on the control flow transfer to either the then-stmt or

2else-stmt, or to the end-point of stmt if there is no else clause.

312.3.3.6 Switch statements

4In a switch statement stmt with a controlling expression expr:

5• The definite assignment state of v at the beginning of expr is the same as the state of v at the beginning

6of stmt.

7• The definite assignment state of v on the control flow transfer to a reachable switch block statement list

8is the same as the definite assignment state of v at the end of expr.

912.3.3.7 While statements

10For a while statement stmt of the form:

11while ( expr ) while-body

12• v has the same definite assignment state at the beginning of expr as at the beginning of stmt.

13• If v is definitely assigned at the end of expr, then it is definitely assigned on the control flow transfer to

14while-body and to the end point of stmt.

15• If v has the state “definitely assigned after true expression” at the end of expr, then it is definitely

16assigned on the control flow transfer to while-body, but not definitely assigned at the end-point of stmt.

17• If v has the state “definitely assigned after false expression” at the end of expr, then it is definitely

18assigned on the control flow transfer to the end point of stmt, but not definitely assigned on the control

19flow transfer to while-body.

2012.3.3.8 Do statements

21For a do statement stmt of the form:

22do do-body while ( expr ) ;

23• v has the same definite assignment state on the control flow transfer from the beginning of stmt to do-

24body as at the beginning of stmt.

25• v has the same definite assignment state at the beginning of expr as at the end point of do-body.

26• If v is definitely assigned at the end of expr, then it is definitely assigned on the control flow transfer to

27the end point of stmt.

28• If v has the state “definitely assigned after false expression” at the end of expr, then it is definitely

29assigned on the control flow transfer to the end point of stmt, but not definitely assigned on the control

30flow transfer to do-body.

3112.3.3.9 For statements

32Definite assignment checking for a for statement of the form:

34is done as if the statement were written:

35{

41}

42}

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