Probably an easy one... Why is this variable not initialized?

Question

Okay I am trying to make a simple text game. Things were going so well but then this little guy crept in here. Maybe you can see something I can't? The compiler is telling me that the variable I am trying to return has not been initialized. I know that I initialized the variable in the first few lines I just didn't assign it a value until later on. The only way that bCanMoveN could possibly remain null is if my switch statement ended up using the default variable. I tried assigning a value in the default case (for whatever reason) but it still gives me the same message. What gives? --Use of unassigned local variable 'bCanMoveN'-- public class Movement { public static bool CanMove( string strMoveCurrentRoom char chaDirection) { bool bCanMoveN; bool bCanMoveE; bool bCanMoveS; bool bCanMoveW; switch (strMoveCurrentRoom) { case FRONT YARD : bCanMoveN = true ; bCanMoveE = false ; bCanMoveS = false ; bCanMoveW = false ; break ; case LIVING ROOM : bCanMoveN = true ; bCanMoveE = true ; bCanMoveS = true ; bCanMoveW = true ; break ; default : //error in method CanMove(). Nonexistant room. break ; } return bCanMoveN; } }

Ryan Alford · Answer

it's good technique to always assign a default value when you instantiate an object setting all of the boolean objects to false when they are instantiated you would not get the error.

Anthony · Answer

Oh duh. It doesn't matter what the values are in the beginning because they are getting changed no matter what happpens. Thank you very much.

Alan · Answer

The compiler needs to be sure that bCanMoveN will always have been assigned a value by the end of the method. It can't be sure of this because if the 'default' case occurs it will still be unassigned. You therefore need to give it a value either initially or within the 'default' case (before 'break' of course).