Chapter 7

Constructors and
Other Tools
Learning Objectives
 Constructors
 Definitions
 Calling

 More Tools
 const parameter modifier
 Inline functions
 Static member data

 Vectors
 Introduction to vector class

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Constructors
 Initialization of objects
 Initialize some or all member variables
 Other actions possible as well

 A special kind of member function

 Automatically called when object declared

 Very useful tool

 Key principle of OOP

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Constructor Definitions
 Constructors defined like any
member function
 Except:
1. Must have same name as class

2. Cannot return a value; not even void!

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Constructor Definition Example
 Class definition with constructor:
 class DayOfYear
{
public:
DayOfYear(int monthValue, int dayValue);
//Constructor initializes month & day
void input();
void output();
…
private:
int month;
int day;
}

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Constructor Notes
 Notice name of constructor: DayOfYear
 Same name as class itself!

 Constructor declaration has no return-type

 Not even void!

 Constructor in public section

 It’s called when objects are declared
 If private, could never declare objects!

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Calling Constructors
 Declare objects:
DayOfYear date1(7, 4),
date2(5, 5);
 Objects are created here
 Constructor is called
 Values in parens passed as arguments
to constructor
 Member variables month, day initialized:
date1.month  7 date2.month  5
date1.dat  4 date2.day  5

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Constructor Equivalency
 Consider:
 DayOfYear date1, date2
date1.DayOfYear(7, 4); // ILLEGAL!
date2.DayOfYear(5, 5); // ILLEGAL!
 Seemingly OK…
 CANNOT call constructors like other
member functions!

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Constructor Code
 Constructor definition is like all other
member functions:
DayOfYear::DayOfYear(int monthValue, int dayValue)
{
month = monthValue;
day = dayValue;
}
 Note same name around ::
 Clearly identifies a constructor
 Note no return type
 Just as in class definition

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Alternative Definition
 Previous definition equivalent to:

DayOfYear::DayOfYear( int monthValue,

int dayValue)
: month(monthValue), day(dayValue) 
{…}
 Third line called "Initialization Section"

 Body left empty

 Preferable definition version

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Constructor Additional Purpose
 Not just initialize data

 Body doesn’t have to be empty

 In initializer version

 Validate the data!

 Ensure only appropriate data is assigned to
class private member variables
 Powerful OOP principle

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Overloaded Constructors
 Can overload constructors just like
other functions
 Recall: a signature consists of:
 Name of function
 Parameter list

 Provide constructors for all possible

argument-lists
 Particularly "how many"

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Class with Constructors Example:
Display 7.1 Class with Constructors (1 of 3)

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Class with Constructors Example:
Display 7.1 Class with Constructors (2 of 3)

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Class with Constructors Example:
Display 7.1 Class with Constructors (3 of 3)

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Constructor with No Arguments
 Can be confusing
 Standard functions with no arguments:
 Called with syntax: callMyFunction();
 Including empty parentheses

 Object declarations with no "initializers":

 DayOfYear date1; // This way!
 DayOfYear date(); // NO!
 What is this really?
 Compiler sees a function declaration/prototype!
 Yes! Look closely!

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Explicit Constructor Calls
 Can also call constructor AGAIN
 After object declared
 Recall: constructor was automatically called then

 Can call via object’s name; standard member

function call
 Convenient method of setting
member variables
 Method quite different from standard
member function call

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Explicit Constructor Call Example
 Such a call returns "anonymous object"
 Which can then be assigned
 In Action:
DayOfYear holiday(7, 4);
 Constructor called at object’s declaration
 Now to "re-initialize":
holiday = DayOfYear(5, 5);
 Explicit constructor call
 Returns new "anonymous object"
 Assigned back to current object

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Default Constructor
 Defined as: constructor w/ no arguments
 One should always be defined
 Auto-Generated?
 Yes & No
 If no constructors AT ALL are defined  Yes
 If any constructors are defined  No

 If no default constructor:
 Cannot declare: MyClass myObject;
 With no initializers

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Class Type Member Variables
 Class member variables can be any type
 Including objects of other classes!

 Type of class relationship

 Powerful OOP principle

 Need special notation for constructors

 So they can call "back" to member
object’s constructor

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Class Member Variable Example:
Display 7.3 A Class Member Variable (1 of 5)

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Class Member Variable Example:
Display 7.3 A Class Member Variable (2 of 5)

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Class Member Variable Example:
Display 7.3 A Class Member Variable (3 of 5)

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Class Member Variable Example:
Display 7.3 A Class Member Variable (4 of 5)

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Class Member Variable Example:
Display 7.3 A Class Member Variable (5 of 5)

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Parameter Passing Methods
 Efficiency of parameter passing
 Call-by-value
 Requires copy be made  Overhead
 Call-by-reference
 Placeholder for actual argument
 Most efficient method
 Negligible difference for simple types
 For class types  clear advantage

 Call-by-reference desirable
 Especially for "large" data, like class types

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The const Parameter Modifier
 Large data types (typically classes)
 Desirable to use pass-by-reference
 Even if function will not make modifications

 Protect argument
 Use constant parameter
 Also called constant call-by-reference parameter

 Place keyword const before type

 Makes parameter "read-only"
 Attempts to modify result in compiler error

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Use of const
 All-or-nothing

 If no need for function modifications

 Protect parameter with const
 Protect ALL such parameters

 This includes class member function

parameters

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Inline Functions
 For non-member functions:
 Use keyword inline in function declaration
and function heading
 For class member functions:
 Place implementation (code) for function IN
class definition  automatically inline
 Use for very short functions only

 Code actually inserted in place of call

 Eliminates overhead
 More efficient, but only when short!

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Inline Member Functions
 Member function definitions
 Typically defined separately, in different file
 Can be defined IN class definition
 Makes function "in-line"

 Again: use for very short functions only

 More efficient
 If too long  actually less efficient!

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Static Members
 Static member variables
 All objects of class "share" one copy
 One object changes it  all see change

 Useful for "tracking"

 How often a member function is called
 How many objects exist at given time

 Place keyword static before type

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Static Functions
 Member functions can be static
 If no access to object data needed
 And still "must" be member of the class
 Make it a static function
 Can then be called outside class
 From non-class objects:
 E.g., Server::getTurn();
 As well as via class objects
 Standard method: myObject.getTurn();

 Can only use static data, functions!

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Static Members Example:
Display 7.6 Static Members (1 of 4)

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Static Members Example:
Display 7.6 Static Members (2 of 4)

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Static Members Example:
Display 7.6 Static Members (3 of 4)

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Static Members Example:
Display 7.6 Static Members (4 of 4)

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Vectors
 Vector Introduction
 Recall: arrays are fixed size

 Vectors: "arrays that grow and shrink"

 During program execution

 Formed from Standard Template Library

(STL)
 Using template class

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Vector Basics
 Similar to array:
 Has base type
 Stores collection of base type values

 Declared differently:
 Syntax: vector<Base_Type>
 Indicates template class
 Any type can be "plugged in" to Base_Type
 Produces "new" class for vectors with that type
 Example declaration:
vector<int> v;

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Vector Use
 vector<int> v;
 "v is vector of type int"
 Calls class default constructor
 Empty vector object created

 Indexed like arrays for access

 But to add elements:
 Must call member function push_back

 Member function size()

 Returns current number of elements

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Vector Example:
Display 7.7 Using a Vector (1 of 2)

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Vector Example:
Display 7.7 Using a Vector (2 of 2)

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Vector Efficiency
 Member function capacity()
 Returns memory currently allocated
 Not same as size()
 Capacity typically > size
 Automatically increased as needed

 If efficiency critical:
 Can set behaviors manually
 v.reserve(32); //sets capacity to 32
 v.reserve(v.size()+10); //sets capacity to 10 more
than size

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Summary 1
 Constructors: automatic initialization of
class data
 Called when objects are declared
 Constructor has same name as class

 Default constructor has no parameters

 Should always be defined

 Class member variables

 Can be objects of other classes
 Require initialization-section

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Summary 2
 Constant call-by-reference parameters
 More efficient than call-by-value

 Can inline very short function definitions

 Can improve efficiency

 Static member variables

 Shared by all objects of a class

 Vector classes
 Like: "arrays that grow and shrink"

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