What Are Static Variables?

An additional variable type must be mentioned at this point, the "static" variable. By putting the reserved word "static" in front of a variable declaration within a function, the variable or variables in the declaration are static variables and will stay in existence from call to call of the particular function. By putting the same reserved word in front of an external variable, one outside of any function, it makes the variable private and not accessible to use in any other file. This implies that it is possible to refer to external variables in other separately compiled files, andthat is true. Examples of this usage will be given in chapter 14 of this tutorial.