C# Compiler - Unassigned Field and Local Variable Initial Value

Question

Out of curiosity:

This code is valid and executes:

public class Program
{
    private static DateTime date;

    public static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine(date.ToString("o"));
    }
}

See it working on .NET Fiddle

But this doesn´t even compile (unassigned local variable):

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        DateTime date;
        Console.WriteLine(date.ToString("o"));
    }
}

See it (not) working on .NET Fiddle

DateTime is a non nullable value type, so it doesn´t need to be assigned and initialized to have a value, it has a default one.

So why the compiler allows the DateTime field version compile and doesn´t let the local variable version compile? When the code is compiled to IL, what prevents an value type local variable from being used?

Might depend on where the variable is located, stack vs. heap — CShark, Sep 10 '17 at 17:52
Possible duplicate of [Why C# local variables must be initialized?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4182666/why-c-sharp-local-variables-must-be-initialized) — , Nov 12 '19 at 08:15

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 10 '17 at 17:54

A field that has no explicit initialisation is automatically initialised to the default value.

This is useful as it's a very common initial value, so it saves time.

A local that has no initialisation is in a state where it can not be used.

This is useful because you very likely did something wrong (especially likely if there are several paths that determine the initial value), so just setting it to the default would likely hide a bug.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 10 '17 at 18:01

A local variable is not automatically initialized and thus has no default value. For the purpose of definite assignment checking, a local variable is considered initially unassigned. A local-variable-declaration may include a local-variable-initializer, in which case the variable is considered definitely assigned in its entire scope, except within the expression provided in the local-variable-initializer.

Within the scope of a local variable, it is a compile-time error to refer to that local variable in a textual position that precedes its local-variable-declarator.

Source :- https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa691170(v=vs.71).aspx

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 10 '17 at 18:07

DateTime is a non nullable value type, so it doesn´t need to be assigned and initialized to have a value, it has a default one

Not exactly.

From the docs:

Unlike classes, structs can be instantiated without using the new operator. In such a case, there is no constructor call, which makes the allocation more efficient. However, the fields will remain unassigned and the object cannot be used until all of the fields are initialized.

See the other answers for the "why the compiler allows the DateTime field version compile and doesn´t let the local variable version compile?"

C# Compiler - Unassigned Field and Local Variable Initial Value

3 Answers3