Static variables in C and C++

Question

Is there any difference between a variable declared as static outside any function between C and C++. I read that static means file scope and the varia

Answer 1

Not really a direct answer to your question, but something closely related to watch out for if you use both C and C++.

In C++, unlike C, global variables which are declared "const" are implicitly local to the translation unit, AS IF "static" had been used.

Example:

// file A
extern const int glob;

// file B
const int glob = 42;

This will work if you are using a C compiler but not with a C++ compiler. In C++, the glob variable in file B cannot be used from file A and the linker will generate an "unresolved reference" error.