I have a problem in c programming that variable name can only include alphabets, digits and underscore but if i write "int _main() then it is accepted as a variable name .

Question

anonymous · Answer

I don't get your question :( sorry http://ideone.com/1vKW8

anonymous · Answer

Are you saying that the brackets are interpreted to be part of the variable "_main" instead of defining the function "_main"?

That would surprise me very much, and would indicate a compiler that is not compliant with the C programming language.

Can you show us a code snippet and tell us what leads you to the conclusion "is accepted as a variable name"?

anonymous · Answer

Please don't just disappear, zatinmadaan. I'm really curious what's at play here.

anonymous · Answer

No it won't in C and C++ and python and Java and D and B.I don't know any language where it does.

anonymous · Answer

here is the code along with the screenshot of the output where it is accepted as a variable ie no error .
Hope this would be helpful.

anonymous · Answer

My question is why _main() is accepted as a variable name as the name of the variable cannot have special symbols except _(underscore).

anonymous · Answer

In C, you can prototype functions inside main. (but that doesn't mean that the function is scopred within main!)

anonymous · Answer

It's not a variable. Try assigning a value to it, like you can with variables

anonymous · Answer

so what is it ?.
int _main() means that it is a variable but i think it might be some special kind of variable which can only be declared not initialized.

anonymous · Answer

no it is not a variable, why do you keep insisting on that? The only one saying it is a variable is you.

agdgdgdgwngo already told you what it is.

anonymous · Answer

what would the point be of a variable that you cannot give a value?

anonymous · Answer

ok , I m convinced. Thank you both agdgdgdgwngo and nczempin for your answer's  and time.