static variable and initialization

[Champion]

When I create a static variable local to a function:
e.g.
void f(void)
{
static int i = 5;
static int t = GetTickCount();
...
}

Is the variable created/initialized only after the function is called for the first time? Or will it be created/initialized at the beginning of the program (although I don't know how this can be done in the second case). Is this behaviour specified in C/C++?

Thanks.

[zb0S216C]

The variable is created first, followed by the execution of the method. When the method returns, the returning value is used to initialize the object.

[Champion]

So if the function f() is called 10s after the program has started, I can be sure that the variable t will be initiallized to 10 instead of something else? Thanks.

[zb0S216C]

Champion wrote:

So if the function f() is called 10s after the program

f( ) cannot be called once the program has been terminated. Unless you you meant something else.

I can be sure that the variable t will be initiallized to 10 instead of something else?

static objects in functions will keep the value from one function call to another, for example:

#include <iostream>

using std::endl;
using std::cout;
using std::cin;

int Static_function( void )
{
    static int i_Counter( 0 );
    return( i_Counter++ );
}

int main( )
{
    for( int i_Loop( 0 ); i_Loop < 3; i_Loop++ )
        cout << Static_function( ) << endl;

    cin.get( );
    return 0;
}

If you run this code, the output should be:

0
1
2

static objects in general will last for the lifetime of the entire program^[1].

References:
^[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_variable