Difference between Instance Variable and Local Variable Last Updated : 02 Nov, 2023 Summarize Comments Improve Suggest changes Share Like Article Like Report A variable is a name given to a memory location. It is the basic unit of storage in a program. The value stored in a variable can be changed during program execution.A variable is only a name given to a memory location. All the operations are done on the variable effects of a memory location.In Java, all the variables must be declared before use.Instance Variable: These variables are declared within a class but outside a method, constructor, or block and always get a default value. These variables are usually created when we create an object and are destroyed when the object is destroyed.We may use an access specifier, for instance, variable, and if no access specifier is specified, then the default access specifier is used.Each and every object will have its own copy of instance variables.Example: class Taxes { int count; // Count is an Instance variable /*...*/ } Local Variable: These variables are declared within a method but do not get any default value. They are usually created when we enter a method or constructor and are destroyed after exiting the block or when the call returns from the method.Its scope is generally limited to a method and its scope starts from the line they are declared. Their scope usually remains there until the closing curly brace of the method comes.The initialization of the local variable is mandatory.Example: int area() { int length = 10; // Local variable int breadth = 5; // Local variable int rectarea = length*breadth; // Local variable return rectarea; } Tabular difference between the instance variable vs local variable: Instance Variable Local Variable They are defined in class but outside the body of methods. They are defined as a type of variable declared within programming blocks or subroutines. These variables are created when an object is instantiated and are accessible to all constructors, methods, or blocks in class. These variables are created when a block, method or constructor is started and the variable will be destroyed once it exits the block, method, or constructor.These variables are destroyed when the object is destroyed. These variables are destroyed when the constructor or method is exited.It can be accessed throughout the class. Its access is limited to the method in which it is declared.They are used to reserving memory for data that the class needs and that too for the lifetime of the object.They are used to decreasing dependencies between components I.e., the complexity of code is decreased.These variables are given a default value if it is not assigned by code. These variables do not always have some value, so there must be a value assigned by code.It is not compulsory to initialize instance variables before use. It is important to initialize local variables before use.It includes access modifiers such as private, public, protected, etc. It does not include any access modifiers such as private, public, protected, etc. Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Storage Classes in C++ with Examples M madhurihammad Follow Improve Article Tags : C++ C-Variable Declaration and Scope Practice Tags : CPP Similar Reads Difference between Instance Variable and Class Variable Instance Variable: It is basically a class variable without a static modifier and is usually shared by all class instances. Across different objects, these variables can have different values. They are tied to a particular object instance of the class, therefore, the contents of an instance variable 2 min read How to Access Global Variable if there is a Local Variable with Same Name in C/ C++? Local Variable: The variable whose scope lies inside a function or a block in which they are declared. Global Variable: The variable that exists outside of all functions. It is the variable that is visible from all other scopes. We can access global variable if there is a local variable with same na 2 min read C++ Global Variables Prerequisites: Scope of Variables, Data Types, and Functions in C++ In C++ programming languages, a variable is a name provided to memory to store different data types. Variable values can change anytime while running the program and each variable has its own scope (or region) where it is valid to a 4 min read Storage Classes in C++ with Examples C++ Storage Classes are used to describe the characteristics of a variable/function. It determines the lifetime, visibility, default value, and storage location which helps us to trace the existence of a particular variable during the runtime of a program. Storage class specifiers are used to specif 6 min read Local Classes in C++ A class declared inside a function becomes local to that function and is called Local Class in C++. A local class name can only be used locally i.e., inside the function and not outside it.The methods of a local class must be defined inside it only.A local class can have static functions but, not st 6 min read Scope rules in C The scope of a variable in C is the block or the region in the program where a variable is declared, defined, and used. Outside this region, we cannot access the variable, and it is treated as an undeclared identifier.The scope is the area under which a variable is visible.The scope of an identifier 5 min read Like