Syntax Errors in Java

Question

if ( year % 4 == 0 )
    int i = 0;
else
    int j = 0;

The syntax errors which crop up in eclipse due to this line of code are:

Syntax error on token "int", delete this token
i cannot be resolved to a variable
Syntax error on token "int", delete this token
j cannot be resolved to a variable
Syntax error on token "=", delete this token

I have no clue why this is happening.

From what I have observed, I think putting an int declaration in the if else construct body is making it happen.

If i declare i and j earlier in the code and the run the program then the error vanishes like:

int i; int j;
if ( year % 4 == 0 )
    i = 0;
else
    j = 0;

No syntax error in this case. Why?

I was writing an answer; but since its closed I can't. Look at the JLS for [the if statement](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-14.html#jls-14.9), if you go up you'll see that a `LocalVariableDeclarationStatement` can only be in a `Block` — Alexis C., Dec 04 '14 at 22:30

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 04 '14 at 22:24

0

It is probably because of scope. Declaring i and j inside of the if makes them unreachable outside of the if statement. Declaring them outside changes their scope.

answered Dec 04 '14 at 22:24

zack.lore

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Syntax Errors in Java

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