# Linkage Section Initialization

**URL:** <https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/linkage-section-initialization/7413>\
**Category:** COBOL technical questions\
**Created:** [April 30, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/linkage-section-initialization/7413 "2024-04-30T19:28:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![caSkyPilot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@caSkyPilot](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/caSkyPilot)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/linkage-section-initialization/7413/1 "2024-04-30T19:28:52Z")

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So first - let’s say there is a Linkage Section variable defined as: 05 Important-Value Pic X(10) Value SPACE. Then let’s say some other program calls this first program where the Important-Value variable being passed has a value of “Platinum”. Once our first program gets up and running, will SPACE overwrite “Platinum” or will “Platinum” overwrite SPACE? Who prevails???

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**Author:** ![ShaunaB1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@ShaunaB1](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/ShaunaB1)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2024, 8:33am UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/linkage-section-initialization/7413/2 "2024-05-02T08:33:37Z")

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The Linkage Section in COBOL is used to declare variables for passing data between programs. When a value is passed to the `Important-Value` variable from another program, it will overwrite the initial value of `SPACE`. So, in this case, “Platinum” will prevail over `SPACE`. [Doglikesbest](https://www.doglikesbest.com/)

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**Author:** ![ssamayoa](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openmainframeproject.org/ssamayoa/32/857_2.png) [@ssamayoa](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/u/ssamayoa)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.openmainframeproject.org/t/linkage-section-initialization/7413/3 "2024-05-04T13:48:00Z")

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Some COBOL compilers rejects “VALUE” clause in linkage section as error because data items “belongs” to the caller so is not initialized as working storage or local storage does.