Use of unassigned local variable <resolved>

[Comreak]

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:

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

The code:

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

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

[axion_sa]

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:

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

[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?

[Pirate]

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

That's right.