Question

What is a local variable? How is access to a local variable restricted?

Short answer

Answer: The purpose of restricting access to local variables is to prevent unintended modifications, maintain the modularity of the code, and allow better management of resources. This access restriction ensures that different parts of the program are isolated, making them independent and less prone to errors. It also enables efficient memory usage, as local variables are created and used when needed, and automatically destroyed once their purpose is served.

Step-by-step solution

Define Local Variable

A local variable is a variable that is declared and used within a specific function or block of code. It is created when the function is called and destroyed once the function has finished executing. Local variables cannot be accessed or modified outside of the function or block they were defined in.

Discuss the Scope of Local Variables

The scope of a local variable is the portion of the code where it can be accessed and used, which is limited to the function or block in which it is declared. When a local variable is declared in a function, it is only accessible within that function and any nested blocks. The scope of a local variable is confined to the boundaries of its function or block, preventing any unauthorized access from other parts of the program.

Explain the Purpose of Access Restriction

The access to local variables is restricted to prevent unintended modifications and maintain the modularity of the code. Limiting the scope of a local variable helps in isolating different parts of the program, making them independent and less prone to errors. This access restriction also allows better management of resources, as local variables are only created and used when needed and are automatically destroyed once their purpose is served, freeing up the memory.