Sharing static variables across files: namespace vs class

Question

There are a lot of questions about static vs global here but I think my question is a bit different.

I want to know if there is a way to share a variable placed in a namespace across files the way static variables in a class can.

For example, I coded this:

//Foo.h
class Foo
{
  public:
  static int code;
  static int times_two(int in_);
};

namespace bar
{
  static int kode;
}

-

//Foo.cpp
int Foo::code = 0;

int Foo::times_two(int in_)
{
  bar::kode++;
  code++;
  return 2*in_;
}

-

//main.cpp
int main()
{
  cout << "Foo::code = " << Foo::code << endl;

  for(int i=2; i < 6; i++)
  {
    cout << "2 x " << i << " = " << Foo::times_two(i) << endl;
    cout << "Foo::code = " << Foo::code << endl;
    cout << "bar::kode = " << bar::kode << endl;

    if(i == 3)
    {
      bar::kode++;
    }
  }
}

All that yielded this for code and kode:

Foo::code = 1,2,3,4
bar::kode = 0,0,1,1

Once again, is there a way to share a variable placed in a namespace across files the way static variables in a class can? The reason I ask is because I thought I would be able to shield myself from confliciting global variables by using :: notation, and just found out I could not. And like any self-disrespecting programmer, I believe I am doing it wrong.

static is probably the single most overloaded keyword in C++. It means something different in both those contexts. — Flexo - Save the data dump
– Flexo - Save the data dump ♦, Commented May 10, 2012 at 13:30
... and in this particular case, just the opposite of what you want. — David Rodríguez - dribeas
– David Rodríguez - dribeas, Commented May 10, 2012 at 13:31

Luchian Grigore · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-10 13:29:02Z

22

Yes:

//bar.h
namespace bar
{
  extern int kode;
}

Outside of a class or struct, static has a whole different meaning. It gives a symbol internal linkage. So if you declare the same variable as static, you will actually get a different copy for all translation units, not a unique global.

Note that you'll need to initialize the variable once:

//bar.cpp
namespace bar
{
   int kode = 1337;
}

answered May 10, 2012 at 13:29

Luchian Grigore

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3 Comments

John Dibling Over a year ago

@Morpork: Note that kode is declared extern here, not static. That's important.

Morpork Over a year ago

@John Yes, I had a feeling there was no avoiding extern when multiple files are involved. Except for a static variable in a class of course. Thanks for the very fast responses, all.

Morpork Over a year ago

Never really thought about it, just reflexively. Something about it seems inelegant.

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