Error while declaring ptr using calloc in global scope

Question

[cquery] type specifier missing, defaults to 'int' [-Wimplicit-int]
[cquery] redefinition of 'ptr' with a different type: 'int' vs 'int *

int *ptr,size=50;
ptr=(int*) calloc(size,sizeof(int));

How can i fix this error?Also what is the reason behind this.

You haven't really shown enough of your code for us to try to reproduce your problem. However if, as your title suggests, you have the `ptr=(int*) calloc(size,sizeof(int));` outside of *any* function, then that can't be done! Code that must execute **must** be inside a function (e.g. in `main`). — Adrian Mole, Sep 23 '20 at 12:11
So do you mean that I cannot dynamically allocate a pointer in the global scope? — User 1426833, Sep 23 '20 at 12:15
That is correct! You can (statically) initialize variables at the global scope but using `calloc` requires actual *execution* of code - must be in a function body. — Adrian Mole, Sep 23 '20 at 12:16

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 23 '20 at 12:14

For starters this

ptr=(int*) calloc(size,sizeof(int));

is not a declaration but an expression statement.

You may not place statements in a file scope.

Moreover a variable with the static storage duration (and file scope variables have the static storage duration) may be initialized with a compile-time constant.

So you should place the statement above in some function for example in main.

Also consider a possibility of redesigning your program such a way that it had as few file scope variables as possible.

Error while declaring ptr using calloc in global scope

1 Answers1