Access static variable from static function [duplicate] - c++

Question

This question already has answers here:
Unresolved external symbol on static class members
(6 answers)
Closed 10 years ago.
It is very important that my function is static, I need to access and modify another static/non-static class member in order to print it out later. How can I do that?
Flow
Class is initiated
Constructor sets variable to something using internal function that must be static
Some time later I print that variable
Example code
#include <iostream>
class MyClass
{
public:
static int s;
static void set()
{
MyClass::s = 5;
}
int get()
{
return MyClass::s;
}
MyClass()
{
this->set();
}
};
void main()
{
auto a = new MyClass();
a->set(); // Error
std::cout << a->get() << std::endl; // Error
system("pause");
}
Error
LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static int MyClass::s" (?s#MyClass##2HA)
LNK1120: 1 unresolved externals

Answer 1

You have declared your static variable, but you have not defined it.
Non-static member variables are created and destroyed as the containing object is created and destroyed.
Static members, however, need to be created independently of object creation.
Add this code to create the int MyClass::s:
int MyClass::s;
Addendum:
C++17 adds inline variables, allowing you code to work with a smaller change:
static inline int s; // You can also assign it an initial value here
^^^^^^