C++ where to initialize static const

Question

I have a class

class foo {
public:
   foo();
   foo( int );
private:
   static const string s;
};

Where is the best place to initialize the

Answer 1

In a translation unit within the same namespace, usually at the top:

// foo.h
struct foo
{
    static const std::string s;
};

// foo.cpp
const std::string foo::s = "thingadongdong"; // this is where it lives

// bar.h
namespace baz
{
    struct bar
    {
        static const float f;
    };
}

// bar.cpp
namespace baz
{
    const float bar::f = 3.1415926535;
}