Global versus Local Variables

[mr-es335]

Good day,

I as under the impression that "global variables" should be avoided.

What is the consensus here?

[MattyD]

hello,

I wouldn't say that they should be avoided - you shouldn't unnecessarily create global variables though.
If you need a variable across a bunch of different functions, declaring it in the global scope can make sense. Otherwise keep it local.

Mostly my global vars tend to be Gui handles and control handles. I also usually have a few parameters at the top of the script that I declare globally, a few things like the script version - or the file paths that I'm working out of etc. But not much outside of that.

[Melba23]

mr-es335,

A personal view.

Global variables should be avoided if at all possible - unless there is an obvious benefit, such as the path to an ini file used by several functions within the script; or where not using a Global variable will overly complicate the script by forcing massive parameter bloat when calling functions.

Why so? Because of the possibility of inadvertantly altering these Global variables from within a function. Changing their value deliberately from within a function is, of course, one of the reasons to use Global variables - but the risk of doing so unintentionally is always present. The use of a suitable Hungarian naming convention can reduce the chances of this considerably - altering a variable commencing with "$g_****" should ring a few alarm bells!

So I would suggest minimal use of Global  variables and the use of suitable names to help prevent possibly disastrous alterations to their content.

M23

 

[mr-es335]

Good day,

Thanks for the replies...appreciated!

This avoidance is what I thought and do make a concerted effort to avoid the employment of global variables.

Then what of this? [Click_Me] ...where it was suggested that I do employ a global variable?!?

A bit confused here!