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Why can't I use the array initializer with an implicitly typed variable?

Asked 2011-09-08T16:32:48.247
24

Why can't I use the array initializer with an implicitly typed variable?

string[] words = { "apple", "strawberry", "grape" };                 // legal
string[] words = new string[]{ "apple", "strawberry", "grape" };     // legal
var words = new []{ "apple", "strawberry", "grape" };                // legal
var words = new string[]{ "apple", "strawberry", "grape" };          // legal

var words = { "apple", "strawberry", "grape", "peach" };             // ILLEGAL

Is there a technical reason for this limitation? Why can't it infer the type like it would for:

var number = 10;
var text = "Hello";

The compiler clearly knows what I am trying to do, it just won't allow it:

CS0820: Cannot assign array initializer to an implicitly typed local


Update: I compiled a program using the four legal array declaration methods, and it generates the same IL: http://pastebin.com/28JDAFbL

This just adds to my confusion. And "it is like this because the spec says so" is of little help. Why is the spec like this? What is the rationale here?

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9

You can use the following syntax to do this:

var words = new[] { "apple", "strawberry", "grape", "peach" };
answered 2011-09-08T16:34:54.673

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