CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++oopconstructor
EyyoFyber
EyyoFyber

Reputation: 38

OOP Constructor question C++

Let's say that I have two classes A and B.

class A
{
    private:
        int value;
    public:
        A(int v)
        {
            value = v;
        }
};

class B
{
    private:
        A value;
    public:
        B()
        {
            // Here's my problem
        }

}

I guess it's something basic but I don't know how to call A's constructor.

Also the compiler demands a default constructor for class A. But if A has a default constructor than wouldn't the default constructor be called whenever I declare a variable of type A. Can I still call a constructor after the default constructor has been called? Or can I declare an instance of a class and then call a constructor later?

I think this could be solved using pointers but can that be avoided ?

I know that you can do something like this in C#.

EDIT: I want to do some computations in the constructor and than initialize the classes. I don't know the values beforehand.

Let's say I'm reading the value from a file and then I initialize A accordingly.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 649

Answers (4)

Manoj R
Manoj R

Reputation: 3247

Or can I declare an instance of a class and then call a constructor later?

Yes, you can do that. Instead of (A value;) declare (A* value;), and then B's constructor will be B():value(new A(5)){}.

In the B's destructor you will have to do delete value;

I think this could be solved using pointers but can that be avoided ?

Yes. Use shared_ptr.

Upvotes: 0

fredoverflow
fredoverflow

Reputation: 263128

The term you are looking for is initializer list. It is separated from the constructor body with a colon and determines how the members are initialized. Always prefer initialization to assignment when possible.

class A
{
    int value;

public:

    A(int value) : value(value) {}
};

class B
{
    A a;

public:

    B(int value) : a(value) {}
}

I want to do some computations in the constructor and than initialize the classes. I don't know the values beforehand.

Simply perform the computation in a separate function which you then call in the initializer list.

class B
{
    A a;

    static int some_computation()
    {
        return 42;
    }

public:

    B() : a(some_computation()) {}
}

Upvotes: 13

kennytm
kennytm

Reputation: 523304

You use an initialization list to initialize the member variables.

public:
    B() : value(4) {   // calls A::A(4) for value.
    }

Upvotes: 3

user180326
user180326

Reputation:

Try:

    B() :
      value(0)
    { 
        // Here's my problem 
    }

Upvotes: 0

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