C++ variable has initializer but incomplete type?

Question

You use a forward declaration when you need a complete type.

You must have a full definition of the class in order to use it.

The usual way to go about this is:

1) create a file Cat_main.h

2) move

#include <string>

class Cat
{
    public:
        Cat(std::string str);
    // Variables
        std::string name;
    // Functions
        void Meow();
};

to Cat_main.h. Note that inside the header I removed using namespace std; and qualified string with std::string.

3) include this file in both Cat_main.cpp and Cat.cpp:

#include "Cat_main.h"

It's not related to Ken's case directly, but such an error also can occur if you copied .h file and forgot to change #ifndef directive. In this case compiler will just skip definition of the class thinking that it's a duplication.

Sometimes, the same error occurs when you forget to include the corresponding header.

You cannot define a variable of an incomplete type. You need to bring the whole definition of Cat into scope before you can create the local variable in main. I recommend that you move the definition of the type Cat to a header and include it from the translation unit that has main.

I got a similar error and hit this page while searching the solution.

With Qt this error can happen if you forget to add the QT_WRAP_CPP( ... ) step in your build to run meta object compiler (moc). Including the Qt header is not sufficient.