[Flickayy]

Hey DIC, I have a small question about Constructors in C++.

I understand the basics of the constructor & destructor, but when I was looking over some source code, I have seen a constructor used in a way I've never seen before, so I was hoping someone could either point me in the right direction so I can read up on this specific way of using it.

Here is the constructor that has puzzled me for awhile.

 IEntity(const typeEntityID theID, App* theApp) :
mApp(theApp),
mID(theID),
mInit(false),
mPaused(false),
mCleanup(false),
mElapsedTime(0.0f),
mPausedTime(0.0f)
{
	    
}

What is the purpose for the ":" in this constructor? Thanks for the help in advance.

[jimblumberg]

The colon signifies the start of the initialization list. It means that the class member variables that follow will be initialized to the value provided inside the parentheses.

Jim

This post has been edited by jimblumberg: 09 October 2012 - 08:58 AM

[Flickayy]

Ah I see, that makes sense now.

Thank you for the quick reply and for providing a link, that has definitely cleared some issues up.

[AKMafia001]

Well said by jimblumberg... Initialization lists are very useful and are good to use always. Even they are must to use and the only option when you deal with const and references in your class which need to be initialized and assigned a value, which cannot be done in constructor's body... This way the constructor assigns the values through implicit initialization...

Here is a small and very well written article you have to read....

Hope this Helps!

[Flickayy]

@AKMafia001

Thank you for the link, I've been reading through the tutorials on that site a very useful resource, so thank you!