Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience.
Accept
to the top
>
>
>
V3128. The field (property) is used bef…
menu mobile close menu
Analyzer diagnostics
General Analysis (C++)
General Analysis (C#)
General Analysis (Java)
Micro-Optimizations (C++)
Diagnosis of 64-bit errors (Viva64, C++)
Customer specific requests (C++)
MISRA errors
AUTOSAR errors
OWASP errors (C++)
OWASP errors (C#)
Problems related to code analyzer
Additional information
toggle menu Contents

V3128. The field (property) is used before it is initialized in constructor.

Jan 17 2016

The analyzer detected a field (property) which is used before it is initialized in the class constructor.

Consider the following example:

class Test
{
  List<int> mylist;
  Test()
  {
    int count = mylist.Count;  // <=
    ....
    mylist = new List<int>();
  }
}

In the constructor of the 'Test' class, property 'Count' of the list 'mylist' is accessed, while the list itself is initialized later. Executing this code fragment would lead to a null reference exception. To avoid it, the list must be initialized first, for example, at declaration:

class Test
{
  List<int> mylist = new List<int>();
  Test()
  {
    int count = mylist.Count;
    ....
  }
}

Here is another example:

class Test2
{
  int myint;
  Test2(int param)
  {
    Foo(myint);  // <=
    ....
    myint = param;
  }
}

In this code, field 'myint', whose default value is 0, is passed to the 'Foo' method. This could be done on purpose, and then there is no error. However, executing code like that can cause unexpected behavior in certain cases. A better solution is to explicitly initialize the 'myint' field, even to a default value of 0:

class Test2
{
  int myint = 0;
  Test2(int param)
  {
    Foo(myint);
    ....
    myint = param;
  }
}

Now both the analyzer and other programmers can see that the code author took care of the 'myint' field and initialized it.

This diagnostic is classified as:

You can look at examples of errors detected by the V3128 diagnostic.

close form

Fill out the form in 2 simple steps below:

Your contact information:

Step 1
Congratulations! This is your promo code!

Desired license type:

Step 2
Team license
Enterprise license
** By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement
close form
Request our prices
New License
License Renewal
--Select currency--
USD
EUR
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
Free PVS‑Studio license for Microsoft MVP specialists
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
To get the licence for your open-source project, please fill out this form
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
I am interested to try it on the platforms:
* By clicking this button you agree to our Privacy Policy statement

close form
check circle
Message submitted.

Your message has been sent. We will email you at


If you do not see the email in your inbox, please check if it is filtered to one of the following folders:

  • Promotion
  • Updates
  • Spam