.. _variables-continuous_state:

""""""""""""""""
continuous_state
""""""""""""""""


State variable - continuous



**Topics**


state_variables, continuous_variables


.. toctree::
   :hidden:
   :maxdepth: 1

   variables-continuous_state-initial_state
   variables-continuous_state-lower_bounds
   variables-continuous_state-upper_bounds
   variables-continuous_state-descriptors


**Specification**

- *Alias:* None

- *Arguments:* INTEGER

- *Default:* No continuous state variables


**Child Keywords:**

+-------------------------+--------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Required/Optional       | Description of     | Dakota Keyword     | Dakota Keyword Description                    |
|                         | Group              |                    |                                               |
+=========================+====================+====================+===============================================+
| Optional                                     | `initial_state`__  | Initial values for variables                  |
+----------------------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Optional                                     | `lower_bounds`__   | Specify minimum values                        |
+----------------------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Optional                                     | `upper_bounds`__   | Specify maximium values                       |
+----------------------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Optional                                     | `descriptors`__    | Labels for the variables                      |
+----------------------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

.. __: variables-continuous_state-initial_state.html
__ variables-continuous_state-lower_bounds.html
__ variables-continuous_state-upper_bounds.html
__ variables-continuous_state-descriptors.html



**Description**


Continuous state variables are defined by bounds.

Default behavior for most methods is that only the initial_state
values are used.

See :ref:`variables:state` for details on the behavior of state
variables.



