C++ Identifiers

C++ Identifiers

All C++ variables must be identified with unique names.

These unique names are called identifiers.

Identifiers can be short names (like x and y) or more descriptive names (age, sum, totalVolume).

Note: It is recommended to use descriptive names in order to create understandable and maintainable code:

Example

// Good
int minutesPerHour = 60;

// OK, but not so easy to understand what m actually is
int m = 60;

 

Try it yourself!

 

The general rules for constructing names for variables (unique identifiers) are:

•     Names can contain letters, digits and underscores

•     Names must begin with a letter or an underscore (_)

•     Names are case sensitive (myVar and myvar are different variables)

•     Names cannot contain whitespaces or special characters like !, #, %, etc.

•     Reserved words (like C++ keywords, such as int) cannot be used as names