Is access to a static function variable slower than access to a global variable?

Question

Static local variables are initialised on the first function call:

Variables declared at block scope with the specifier static have static storage duratio

Answer 1

You are conceptually correct of course, but contemporary architectures can deal with this.

A modern compiler and architecture would arrange the pipeline such that the already-initialised branch was assumed. The overhead of initialisation would therefore incur an extra pipeline dump, that's all.

If you're in any doubt, check the assembly.