private

1.001.001.001.001.501.000.50

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Description

Description:

Sets a variable to the innermost scope as demonstrated in Example 3. See also param and params.

ⓘ

private variables must start with an underscore: private _myVar1 = "myVar"; - see Identifier.

⚠

Always make your local variables private (through private or params) in order to avoid overwriting a local variable of the same name.

Groups:

Variables

Syntax 1

Syntax:

private variableName

Parameters:

variableName: String - e.g "_myVar"

Return Value:

Nothing

Syntax 2

Syntax:

private variableNameList

Parameters:

variableNameList: Array of Strings, e.g ["_target", "_damage"]

Return Value:

Nothing

1.54

Syntax 3

Syntax:

private _identifier = value

Parameters:

_identifier: underscored variable name, for example _myVar

value: Anything: value to assign to the variable

Return Value:

Nothing

Examples

Example 1:

private _varname = "this is my new variable"; // since Arma 3 v1.53 only // identical, but less performant private "_varname"; _varname = "this is my new variable";

Example 2:

private ["_varname1", "_varname2"]; _varname1 = "variable 1"; _varname2 = "variable 2";

Example 3:

_lol = 123; call { hint str [_lol] }; // [123] _lol = 123; call { private "_lol"; hint str [_lol] }; // [any]

Example 4:

_myvar = 123; systemChat str [_myvar]; // [123] call { systemChat str [_myvar]; // [123] private "_myvar"; systemChat str [_myvar]; // [any] _myvar = 345; systemChat str [_myvar]; // [345] }; systemChat str [_myvar]; // [123]

Additional Information

See also:

paramparamsVariables - Scope

Notes

Report bugs on the Feedback Tracker and/or discuss them on the Arma Discord or on the Forums.
Only post proven facts here! Add Note

Posted on August 4, 2010

Faguss

The higher scope is also the script from which the function has been called.
in script2.sqf: _a = 2; in script1.sqf: _a = 1; call compile preprocessFileLineNumbers "script2.sqf"; hint format ["%1", _a];
Game will display 2.
Inserting private "_a" in the function prevents the change and so number 1 will be displayed on the screen.

Posted on February 25, 2015 - 17:06 (UTC)

DreadedEntity

Recursive loops require the use of private. Without it, your variables will be overwritten.

Posted on January 31, 2018 - 10:37 (UTC)

654wak654

This command is similar to javascript's let keyword.
EDIT: in the way that it scopes the variable to the innermost scope. Otherwise, let and private can behave differently - Lou Montana (talk)