use parameterized constructor in other classes constructor

Question

I fear that this is a very basic question, however, I was not able to solve it yet.

I have a class A

// classA.h
...

class ClassA {
    public:
        ClassA();
        ClassA(int foo);
    private:
        int _foo;

    ...

}

// classA.cpp

ClassA::ClassA() {
    _foo = 0;
}

ClassA::ClassA(int foo) {
    _foo = foo;
}

...

A second class B uses an instance of class A in the constructor:

// classB.h
...

#include "classA.h"

#define bar 5

class ClassB {
    public:
        ClassB();
    private:
        ClassA _objectA;

    ...

}

// classB.cpp

ClassB::ClassB() {
    _objectA = ClassA(bar);
}

...

Note that the default constructor of class A is never used. In fact in my real world use case it would not even make sense to use any kind of a default constructor as _foo has to be dynamically assigned.

However, if I remove the default constructor, the compiler returns an error:

no matching function for call to 'ClassA::ClassA()'

Is there a way to use an instance of class A as an object in class B without defining a default constructor for class A? How would this be done?

Note that the default constructor of class A is never used -- With your current code, it is being used here: ClassA _objectA; even if you didn't mean to do so. — PaulMcKenzie
– PaulMcKenzie, Commented Nov 17, 2016 at 21:35

krzaq · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-17 21:35:28Z

3

The default constructor of ClassA is used. ClassB's _objectA is initialized with it and then you assign ClassA(bar) to it.

You can solve your problem by using constructor initializer lists:

ClassB::ClassB() : _objectA(bar)
{}

answered Nov 17, 2016 at 21:35

krzaq

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1 Comment

speendo Over a year ago

thank you! Your answer leads to a follow-up question, but it is a step further :)

Vlad from Moscow · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-17 21:53:50Z

3

Just write

ClassB::ClassB() :  _objectA(bar)
{
}

The problem is that when the body of the constructor of the ClassB is executed the data member _objectA is already constructed and inside the body there is used the copy assignment operator

ClassB::ClassB() {
    _objectA = ClassA(bar);
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
}

Thus you can remove the default constructor of the ClassA.

edited Nov 17, 2016 at 21:53

answered Nov 17, 2016 at 21:35

Vlad from Moscow

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1 Comment

speendo Over a year ago

thank you! Your answer leads to a follow-up question, but it is a step further :)

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