How to initial “static const char * []” in class member?[C++]

Question

When I am doing my homework, the question ask me to finish the given class:

//Card.hpp
class Card {
private:
    static const char* faceNames[totalFaces];
};

I write mycode in Card.cpp :

const char* faceNames[Card::totalFaces] = { "Ace", "Deuce", "Three", "Four", "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight", "Nine", "Ten", "Jack", "Queen", "King" };

I use VS2017 to build it, but it shows that

error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "private: static char const * * Card::faceNames" (?faceNames@Card@@0PAPBDA)

How should I do?

Answer 1

You can define it outside the class without specifying the size. You don't have to specify the size again. Note the :: requirement for defining members outside class.

const char* Card::faceNames[] = { "Ace", "Deuce", "Three", "Four", "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight", "Nine", "Ten", "Jack", "Queen", "King" };

Demo

Answer 2

You accidentally defined an unrelated array faceNames when you meant to define the static member. You need to name the class static member using :: notation:

const char* Card::faceNames[Card::totalFaces] = { "Ace", "Deuce", "Three", "Four", "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight", "Nine", "Ten", "Jack", "Queen", "King" };