Question

Which is the best way to declare a temporary variable in a function designed to find the smallest number in a list of numbers, and why?

A. Declare it as a local variable because it makes it easier to read the code.
B. Declare it as a local variable because using less memory is preferred.
C. Declare it as a global variable since it is easier to comment and faster to read.
D. Declare it as a global variable since these variables translate easier into machine code.

Answer 1

The best way to declare a temporary variable in a function designed to find the smallest number in a list of numbers is to declare it as a local variable. This option is better than declaring it as a global variable because it makes the code easier to read and understand.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best way to declare a temporary variable in a function designed to find the smallest number in a list of numbers is to declare it as a local variable. This option is better than declaring it as a global variable because it makes the code easier to read and understand.

By declaring the temporary variable locally, it is limited in scope and is only accessible within the function where it is declared. This improves code organization and reduces the chances of variable name clashes or unintended variable modifications.

When a variable is declared as a local variable, it is stored in the stack memory, which is faster to access than the global memory. This makes the function more efficient in terms of memory usage. Declaring the temporary variable locally ensures that it is only used within the function and does not consume memory for a longer duration.

Therefore, option A, declaring the temporary variable as a local variable, is the best choice in this scenario.