Q: Unused local variables

[BB <adamnt42@xxxxxxxxx>]

Does having unused local variables in a method actually have an effect?

I've never worried about it until today. My theory is that the only 
effect would be the execution of the command to allocate some space on 
the local heap when the method is activated, which would then be freed 
when the method exits. That is, approximately 1 malloc and 1 free.

But is this what actually happens? Or since the variable is unused is 
the compiler smart enough to ignore it altogether?

regards

b