Default values for integers in structure

Question

I can't figure out how to set default value for integer in structure. For example

 typedef struct {
        char breed[40];
        char coatColor[40];
        int maxAge = 20;
    } Cat;

The code above gives me an error on execution - Expected ';' at end of declaration list

Answer 1

You cannot specify default values in C. What you probably want is an 'init' style function which users of your struct should call first:

struct Cat c;
Cat_init(&c);

// etc.

Answer 2

In C you cannot give default values in a structure. This syntax just doesn't exist.

Answer 3

Succinctly, you can't. It simply isn't a feature of C.

Answer 4

A structure is a type. Types (all types) do not have default values.

// THIS DOES NOT WORK
typedef char = 'R' chardefault;
chardefault ch; // ch contains 'R'?

You can assign values to objects in initialization

char ch = 'R'; // OK
struct whatever obj = {0}; // assign `0` (of the correct type) to all members of struct whatever, recursively if needed

Answer 5

you can initialize but it's not practical with strings ( better to use your custom functions)

typedef struct {
        char breed[40];
        char coatColor[40];
        int maxAge; 
} Cat;

Cat c = {"here39characters40404040404044040404040",
         "here39characters40404040404044040404040",
          19
};