Local Variables

A local variable belongs to the function in which it is created, and only statements inside that function can access the variable. An error will occur if a statement in one function tries to access a local variable that belongs to another function.

A variable’s scope is the part of a program in which the variable may be accessed. A variable is visible only to statements in the variable’s scope. A local variable’s scope is the function in which the variable is created. A local variable cannot be accessed by code that appears inside the function at a point before the variable has been created. Because a function’s local variables are hidden from other functions, the other functions may have their own local variables with the same name.