Can C Variable Names Include Dollar Signs?

C Dollar Sign in Variable Names

In C , variable names must adhere to specific rules, but a peculiar exception has emerged. Some implementations allow for the use of dollar signs ($) in variable names, a character typically associated with other programming languages like PHP.

Valid Characters for Variables in C

According to the C standard, only alphanumeric characters and underscores (_) are considered valid for variable names. However, certain implementations tolerate a broader range of characters.

Dollar Sign in Variable Names

The dollar sign ($) is not officially recognized by the C standard as a valid character for variable names. However, some compilers, most notably Microsoft Visual C 2008, accept it.

Portability Considerations

Using non-standard characters in variable names can compromise code portability. Since not all implementations support such extensions, it's best to restrict yourself to the characters explicitly defined in the standard (26 unaccented letters, 10 digits, and '_').

Other Weird Characters

Beyond the dollar sign, some compilers may accept other uncommon characters in variable names. However, it's strongly advised to avoid these non-standard extensions for portability reasons.

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