Use of unassigned local variable <resolved>

This is driving me insane. I'm sure the mistake is rediculously simple to see but I can't figure it out. Maybe you guys can see what I'm doing wrong...

The error:

Code:

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error CS0165: Use of unassigned local variable 'carType'
error CS0165: Use of unassigned local variable 'carMake'
error CS0165: Use of unassigned local variable 'carColor'

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The code:

Code:

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string carColor;
string carMake;
string carType;

switch(carList[lstMadeCars.SelectedIndex].GetType().Name)
{
        case "Car":
        {
                carColor = ((Car)carList[lstMadeCars.SelectedIndex]).aCarColor.ToString();
                carMake = ((Car)carList[lstMadeCars.SelectedIndex]).aCarMake.ToString();
                carType = ((Car)carList[lstMadeCars.SelectedIndex]).aCarType.ToString();
                break;
        }
        case "SportsCar":
        {
                carColor = ((SportsCar)carList[lstMadeCars.SelectedIndex]).aCarColor.ToString();
                carMake = ((SportsCar)carList[lstMadeCars.SelectedIndex]).aCarMake.ToString();
                carType = ((SportsCar)carList[lstMadeCars.SelectedIndex]).aCarType.ToString();
                break;
        }
}

lblResult.Text = carType + "\n" + carMake + " " + carColor;  //carType, carMake, and carColor where all underlined by VS on this line

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Am I missing something here? Thanks for any help in advance.

When you declare a variable without assigning a value (e.g. string x;), it is essentially points to absolutely nothing - thus the compilation error.

Easiest way to get rid of those compile errors would be to initialise your variables prior to entering the case statement:

Code:

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string carColor = string.Empty;
string carMake = string.Empty;
string carType = string.Empty;

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I figured it was something like that. So neither value types nor ref types are automatically given a value when declared within a function?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Comreak

I figured it was something like that. So neither value types nor ref types are automatically given a value when declared within a function?

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That's right.