# The UNION keyword.

The union keyword allows several variables of different type and size to occupy the same storage location.

The syntax to define a union is simular to the struct keyword as shown below:

    	union union_def { int a; float b; char c;} ;

and a variable declared with either of these statements:

    	union union_def union_var;
    	union { int a; float b; char c;} union_var;

If you wish to initalise a variable you can say:

    	union { int a; float b; char c;} union_var=97;

By default the first variable (a) is initalised.

To assign a value to a variable you can say:

    	union_var.b=99.99;
    	union_var.a=34;
    	union_var.c='x';

It's important to note that the storage will only hold ONE value, looking at the three lines above, union_var.a overwrites union_var.b and then union_var.c overwrites union_var.a

I have yet to see more than one use for this keyword.

## Examples:

Here is an example.

## See also:

- struct keyword.

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