Can I call a constructor from another constructor (do constructor chaining) in C++?

Stormenet picture Stormenet · Nov 21, 2008 · Viewed 488.1k times · Source

As a C# developer I'm used to running through constructors:

class Test {
    public Test() {
        DoSomething();
    }

    public Test(int count) : this() {
        DoSomethingWithCount(count);
    }

    public Test(int count, string name) : this(count) {
        DoSomethingWithName(name);
    }
}

Is there a way to do this in C++?

I tried calling the Class name and using the 'this' keyword, but both fail.

Answer

JohnIdol picture JohnIdol · Nov 21, 2008

C++11: Yes!

C++11 and onwards has this same feature (called delegating constructors).

The syntax is slightly different from C#:

class Foo {
public: 
  Foo(char x, int y) {}
  Foo(int y) : Foo('a', y) {}
};

C++03: No

Unfortunately, there's no way to do this in C++03, but there are two ways of simulating this:

  1. You can combine two (or more) constructors via default parameters:

    class Foo {
    public:
      Foo(char x, int y=0);  // combines two constructors (char) and (char, int)
      // ...
    };
    
  2. Use an init method to share common code:

    class Foo {
    public:
      Foo(char x);
      Foo(char x, int y);
      // ...
    private:
      void init(char x, int y);
    };
    
    Foo::Foo(char x)
    {
      init(x, int(x) + 7);
      // ...
    }
    
    Foo::Foo(char x, int y)
    {
      init(x, y);
      // ...
    }
    
    void Foo::init(char x, int y)
    {
      // ...
    }
    

See the C++FAQ entry for reference.