char assignment in C

Question

Why does this generate errors?

char variable = "\n"; 
printf ("%c",variable);

But changing the double quotes to single fixes it?

char variable = '\n';
printf ("%c",variable);

A string (the 1st example) is null terminated. so requires two characters. Heed your compiler's warnings. — OldProgrammer, May 15 '20 at 00:22
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3683602/single-quotes-vs-double-quotes-in-c-or-c — visibleman, May 15 '20 at 00:23

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered May 15 '20 at 00:22

Because "\n" is an array of chars. Specifically a char[2] array, as it is the same as {'\n',0}. And you cannot assign a char[2] to a char.

Even without the null termination you would still not be able to assign it because of the type mismatch. No char[N] (for a fixed N) can be assigned to a char.

char assignment in C

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