java - How to assign/access variables in if statements on the same level -

so, need access variables assigned in if statements in last if statement. beginner in java , appreciated :)

here compilation error.

exception in thread "main" java.lang.error: unresolved compilation problems:  local variable may not have been initialized local variable b may not have been initialized local variable c may not have been initialized local variable d may not have been initialized local variable e may not have been initialized 

and here code. need assign variable based on how many iterations have passed, , access variables after have been assigned on last iteration.

public static void main(string[] args){     string a;     string b;     string c;     string d;     string e;     scanner s = new scanner(system.in);  for( int loop = 1; loop <= 6; loop++ ){     if(loop == 1){         system.out.println("please input grade.");         = s.nextline();         system.out.println("you said,"+a);         continue;         }     if(loop == 2){         system.out.println("please input grade.");;         b = s.nextline();         system.out.println("you said,"+b);         continue;     }     if(loop == 3){         system.out.println("please input grade.");         c = s.nextline();         system.out.println("you said," +c);         continue;     }     if(loop == 4){         system.out.println("please input grade.");         d = s.nextline();         system.out.println("you said," +d);         continue;     }     if(loop == 5){         system.out.println("please input grade.");         e = s.nextline();         system.out.println("you said," +e);         continue;     }     if(loop == 6){         system.out.println("grade 1."+a);         system.out.println("grade 1."+b);         system.out.println("grade 1."+c);         system.out.println("grade 1."+d);         system.out.println("grade 1."+e);     }       } } 

you declaring , trying access string. must initialize them first if you're going use variables. declare them doing this:

string a; 

you need initialize them this:

string = ""; 

initialize them before try access them or java's compiler not happy!