What are the C++ rules for calling the superclass constructor from a subclass one?
For example, I know in Java, you must do it as the first line of the subclass constructor (and if you don't, an implicit call to a no-arg super constructor is assumed - giving you a compile error if that's missing).
Base class constructors are automatically called for you if they have no argument. If you want to call a superclass constructor with an argument, you must use the subclass's constructor initialization list. Unlike Java, C++ supports multiple inheritance (for better or worse), so the base class must be referred to by name, rather than "super()".
class SuperClass
{
public:
SuperClass(int foo)
{
// do something with foo
}
};
class SubClass : public SuperClass
{
public:
SubClass(int foo, int bar)
: SuperClass(foo) // Call the superclass constructor in the subclass' initialization list.
{
// do something with bar
}
};
More info on the constructor's initialization list here and here.