Constructors
What is the use of Constructor ?
The main use of constructors is to initialize
objects.
The function of initialization is automatically
carried out by the use of a special member
function called a constructor.
By Hardeep Singh
General Syntax of Constructor
Constructor is a special member function that
takes the same name as the class name.
The syntax generally is as given below:
<class name> { arguments};
The default constructor for a class X has the form
X::X()
By Hardeep Singh
Cont……
The constructor is automatically called when an object is
created.
There are several forms in which a constructor can take its
shape namely:
Default Constructor
Parameterized Constructors
Copy constructor
By Hardeep Singh
Default Constructor:
This constructor has no arguments in it.
Default Constructor is also called as no argument
constructor.
Example:
class creature
{
private:
int yearofBirth;
public:
By Hardeep Singh
Cont…..
creature()
{
cout<<“Contructor called";
}
};
int main()
{
creature obj;
getch();
return 0;
}
By Hardeep Singh
Parameterized Constructors:
A parameterized constructor is just one that has
parameters specified in it.
We can pass the arguments to constructor function
when object are created.
A constructor that can take arguments are called
parameterized constructors.
By Hardeep Singh
Example:
class Creature {
private:
int yearOfBirth;
public:
// …
Creature(int year) { //Parameterized Constructor
yearOfBirth = year;
}
};
By Hardeep Singh
Copy Constructor:
Copy Constructor is used to declare and initialize an object
from another object.
For example the statement:
abc c2(c1);
would define the object c2 and at the same time initialize it
to the value of c1.
The process of initializing through a copy constructor is
known as copy initialization.
By Hardeep Singh
Example:
class abc
{
int a, b;
public:
abc(int x, int y)
{
a = x;
b = y;
}
abc::abc(abc &p)
{
a = p.a;
b = p.b;
}
By Hardeep Singh
Cont……
void showdata()
{
cout << a << " " << b << endl;
}
};
int main()
{
abc c1(10, 20);
abc c2(c1);
c1.showdata();
c2.showdata();
getch();
}
By Hardeep Singh
Default Arguments
Default argument is an argument to a function that a
programmer is not required to specify.
C++ allow the programmer to specify default arguments
that always have a value, even if one is not specified
when calling the function.
For example, in the following function declaration:
int MyFunc(int a, int b, int c=12);
By Hardeep Singh
Cont……
The programmer may call this function in two ways:
result = MyFunc(1, 2, 3);
result = MyFunc(1, 2);
In the first case the value for the argument called c is specified as
normal. In the second one, the argument is omitted, and the
default value of 12 will be used instead.
It is possible to define constructors with default arguments.
By Hardeep Singh
Some important points about
constructors:
Automatically called when an object is created.
We can define our own constructors
A constructor takes the same name as the class
name.
We can’t define a constructor in the private
section.
By Hardeep Singh
Cont…..
No return type is specified for a constructor.
Constructor must be defined in the public. The
constructor must be a public member.
Overloading of constructors is possible.
If an object is copied from another object then the
copy constructor is called.
By Hardeep Singh
Destructors
Destructors are special member functions.
Release dynamic allocated memory.
Destructors are automatically named.
Takes the same name of class name.
By Hardeep Singh
General Syntax of Destructors
~ classname();
By Hardeep Singh
Some important points about
destructors:
Take the same name as class name.
Defined in the public.
Destructors cannot be overloaded.
No return type is specified.
By Hardeep Singh
Example:
class creature
{
private:
int yearofBirth;
public:
creature()
{
yearofBirth=1970;
cout<<"constructure called"<<endl;
}
~creature()
{
cout<<"destructure called"<<endl;
}
};
By Hardeep Singh
Cont……
int main()
{
cout<<"main start"<<endl;
{
creature obj;
}
cout<<"main end"<<endl;
getch();
return 0;
}
By Hardeep Singh
By Hardeep Singh
