Data member initializers

Initializing data members

There are two ways to initialize data members.

• Explicit assignments in a constructor.
• In a member initializer in the constructor header.

Member initializer syntax

The definition (not the prototype) header is followed by a colon, the name of the field, and a parenthesized initial value. Separate multiple initializations with commas.

Insert example here

Member initializer required in the following cases

• To initialize const data members.
• To initialize references.
• To initialize member objects. If a member initializer is not provided, the default constructor for that class will be called.
• To initialize base class members.