Initializing Constant Static Array In Header File

Question

I have just found out that the following is not valid.

//Header File class test {     const static char array[] = { '1', '2', '3' }; }; 

Where is the best place to initialize this?

Answer 1

The best place would be in a source file

// Header file class test {     const static char array[]; };  // Source file const char test::array[] = {'1','2','3'}; 

You can initialize integer types in the class declaration like you tried to do; all other types have to be initialized outside the class declaration, and only once.

Answer 2

You can always do the following:

class test {   static const char array(int index) {     static const char a[] = {'1','2','3'};     return a[index];   }  }; 

A couple nice things about this paradigm:

• No need for a cpp file
• You can do range checking if you want to
• You avoid having to worry about the static initialization fiasco