Constructors

In C++, a constructor is a special member function of a class that is automatically called when an object
of that class is created. Its main purpose is to initialize the object’s data members.
 Name – The constructor has the same name as the class.
 No return type – Not even void.
 Automatic call – Runs when an object is created.
 Can be overloaded – You can have multiple constructors with different parameters.
Types:
1. Default constructors
This constructor doesn't take any argument as it is parameter less and initializes object members using
default values. It is also called a zero-argument constructor. However, the default constructor is not
generated by the compiler if the programmer has explicitly defined a constructor.
Example:
#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<string.h> // for strcpy
class Employee
{
int Id;
char Name[25];
int Age;
long Salary;
public:
Employee() // Default Constructor
{
Id = 101;
strcpy(Name, "Smith"); //Copy string into char array
Age = 30;
Salary = 50000;
cout << "Default Constructor called\n";
}
void PutData()
{
cout << "\n\nEmployee Id : " << Id;
cout << "\nEmployee Name : " << Name;
cout << "\nEmployee Age : " << Age;
cout << "\nEmployee Salary : " << Salary;
}
};
void main()
{
clrscr();
Employee E; // Default constructor is called automatically
E.PutData();
}

Output:
 Default Constructor called

Employee Id : 101
Employee Name : Smith
Employee Age : 30
Employee Salary : 50000

2. Parameterized constructors
Parameterized constructor allows us to pass arguments to constructors. Typically, these arguments
help initialize an object's members. To create a parameterized constructor, simply add parameters to it
the way you would to any other function. When you define the constructor’s body, use the parameters
to initialize the object's members.
Example:
#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<string.h> // for strcpy
class Employee
{
int Id;
char Name[25];
int Age;
long Salary;
public:
Employee(int id, const char name[], int age, long
salary) // Parameterized Constructor
{
Id = id;
strcpy(Name, name); // copy string into char array
Age = age;
Salary = salary;
cout << "Parameterized Constructor called\n";
}

void PutData()
{
cout << "\n\nEmployee Id : " << Id;
cout << "\nEmployee Name : " << Name;
cout << "\nEmployee Age : " << Age;
cout << "\nEmployee Salary : " << Salary;
}
};

void main()
{
// Passing values directly while creating object
Employee E(102, "John", 28, 55000);
E.PutData();
}
Output:
Parameterized Constructor called

Employee Id : 102
Employee Name : John
Employee Age : 28
Employee Salary : 55000

3. copy constructors
A copy constructor is a member function that initializes an object using another object of the same
class. Copy constructor takes a reference to an object of the same class as an argument.
Example:
#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>
#include<string.h> // for strcpy
class Employee
{
int Id;
char Name[25];
int Age;
long Salary;
public:
// Default Constructor
Employee()
{
Id = 101;
strcpy(Name, "Smith");
Age = 30;
Salary = 50000;
cout << "Default Constructor called\n";
}

// Copy Constructor
Employee(const Employee &E)
{
Id = E.Id;
strcpy(Name, E.Name);
Age = E.Age;
Salary = E.Salary;
cout << "Copy Constructor called\n";
}

void PutData()
{
cout << "\n\nEmployee Id : " << Id;
cout << "\nEmployee Name : " << Name;
cout << "\nEmployee Age : " << Age;
cout << "\nEmployee Salary : " << Salary;
}
};

void main()
 {
clrscr();
Employee E1; // Calls Default Constructor
E1.PutData();
Employee E2 = E1; // Calls Copy Constructor
E2.PutData();
getch();
}

Output:
Default Constructor called
Employee Id : 101
Employee Name : Smith
Employee Age : 30
Employee Salary : 50000
Copy Constructor called

Employee Id : 101
Employee Name : Smith
Employee Age : 30
Employee Salary : 50000