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C++ Class Constructor and Destructor

C++ classes can define constructors and destructors to initialize and clean up objects. Constructors are special member functions that are called when an object is created. They can initialize member variables and have the same name as the class. Destructors are called when an object is destroyed or deleted and have the class name prefixed with a tilde. Constructors can be default (take no parameters) or parameterized to initialize an object with values. Initialization lists can also initialize fields when an object is constructed.

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44 views4 pages

C++ Class Constructor and Destructor

C++ classes can define constructors and destructors to initialize and clean up objects. Constructors are special member functions that are called when an object is created. They can initialize member variables and have the same name as the class. Destructors are called when an object is destroyed or deleted and have the class name prefixed with a tilde. Constructors can be default (take no parameters) or parameterized to initialize an object with values. Initialization lists can also initialize fields when an object is constructed.

Uploaded by

Anshu Rajput
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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C++ Class Constructor and Destructor

The Class Constructor


A class constructor is a special member function of a class that is executed whenever
we create new objects of that class.
A constructor will have exact same name as the class and it does not have any return
type at all, not even void. Constructors can be very useful for setting initial values for
certain member variables.
Following example explains the concept of constructor −

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class Line {
public:
void setLength( double len );
double getLength( void );
Line(); // This is the constructor
private:
double length;
};

// Member functions definitions including constructor


Line::Line(void) {
cout << "Object is being created" << endl;
}
void Line::setLength( double len ) {
length = len;
}
double Line::getLength( void ) {
return length;
}

// Main function for the program


int main() {
Line line;

// set line length


line.setLength(6.0);
cout << "Length of line : " << line.getLength() <<endl;

return 0;
}
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −
Object is being created
Length of line : 6

Parameterized Constructor
A default constructor does not have any parameter, but if you need, a constructor can
have parameters. This helps you to assign initial value to an object at the time of its
creation as shown in the following example −

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;


class Line {
public:
void setLength( double len );
double getLength( void );
Line(double len); // This is the constructor

private:
double length;
};

// Member functions definitions including constructor


Line::Line( double len) {
cout << "Object is being created, length = " << len << endl;
length = len;
}
void Line::setLength( double len ) {
length = len;
}
double Line::getLength( void ) {
return length;
}

// Main function for the program


int main() {
Line line(10.0);

// get initially set length.


cout << "Length of line : " << line.getLength() <<endl;

// set line length again


line.setLength(6.0);
cout << "Length of line : " << line.getLength() <<endl;
return 0;
}

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −
Object is being created, length = 10
Length of line : 10
Length of line : 6

Using Initialization Lists to Initialize Fields


In case of parameterized constructor, you can use following syntax to initialize the
fields −
Line::Line( double len): length(len) {
cout << "Object is being created, length = " << len << endl;
}
Above syntax is equal to the following syntax −
Line::Line( double len) {
cout << "Object is being created, length = " << len << endl;
length = len;
}
If for a class C, you have multiple fields X, Y, Z, etc., to be initialized, then use can use
same syntax and separate the fields by comma as follows −
C::C( double a, double b, double c): X(a), Y(b), Z(c) {
....
}

The Class Destructor


A destructor is a special member function of a class that is executed whenever an
object of it's class goes out of scope or whenever the delete expression is applied to a
pointer to the object of that class.
A destructor will have exact same name as the class prefixed with a tilde (~) and it can
neither return a value nor can it take any parameters. Destructor can be very useful for
releasing resources before coming out of the program like closing files, releasing
memories etc.
Following example explains the concept of destructor −

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;


class Line {
public:
void setLength( double len );
double getLength( void );
Line(); // This is the constructor declaration
~Line(); // This is the destructor: declaration

private:
double length;
};

// Member functions definitions including constructor


Line::Line(void) {
cout << "Object is being created" << endl;
}
Line::~Line(void) {
cout << "Object is being deleted" << endl;
}
void Line::setLength( double len ) {
length = len;
}
double Line::getLength( void ) {
return length;
}

// Main function for the program


int main() {
Line line;

// set line length


line.setLength(6.0);
cout << "Length of line : " << line.getLength() <<endl;

return 0;
}

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −
Object is being created
Length of line : 6
Object is being deleted

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