program-wide variable

noun

UK /ˈprəʊ.ɡræm.waɪd ˈveə.ri.ə.bəl/

US /ˈproʊ.ɡræm.waɪd ˈver.i.ə.bəl/

A box that holds a value and can be seen and used by every part of a computer program.

The game score is stored in a program-wide variable so every screen can show it.

SYNONYMS

global variable shared variable whole-program variable common variable

RELATED WORDS

scope local variable module namespace declaration

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A variable declared outside all functions so all code in the program can read or change it.

She made the player's name a program-wide variable so every level could display it.

3. A setting that keeps one value for the entire run of a program.

The language choice is a program-wide variable that stays the same until the app closes.

4. A shared storage spot that lets different parts of a program pass information to each other.

They used a program-wide variable to share the login status between the menu and the game.