# V2612\. MISRA\. Array element should not be initialized more than once\.

This diagnostic rule is based on the [MISRA](https://www.misra.org.uk/) \(Motor Industry Software Reliability Association\) guidelines for software development\.

This rule applies only to C\. The C language has special syntax to initialize expressions \- a designated initializer\. It allows you to initialize array or structure elements in a custom order\. 

For example, you can initialize an array's specific elements:

```cpp
int arr[4] = {
  [1] = 1,
  [3] = 2,
};
```

This syntax also works for structures:

```cpp
struct point
{
  int x;
  int y;
};

struct point pt1 = {
  .x = 1,
  .y = 1,
};
```

However, when using this syntax, a developer can make a mistake and initialize the same element twice:

```cpp
int arr[4] = {
  [3] = 1,
  [3] = 2,
};

struct point pt1 = {
  .x = 1,
  .x = 1,
};
```

MISRA prohibits this syntax construction, because the language standard does not define whether the code above causes any side effects\. Most likely, such mistakes are typos\.