Member variables initialization [duplicate]

Question

Is there any difference regarding the initialization of the x member variable in these cases:

struct A {
    int x;
    A() {}
};

struct B {
    int x;
    B() : x(0) {}
};

struct C {
    int x;
    C() : x() {}
};

For all these cases, in the tests I did, x is always set to the initial value of 0. Is this a guaranteed behavior? Is there any difference in these approaches?

in the tests I did, x is always set to the initial value of 0 -- You can't do tests like this and conclude this is how C++ works. The value of 0 is just as uninitialized as any other value. You know a value is initialized by following the rules of initialization, which B and C do successfully. — PaulMcKenzie
– PaulMcKenzie, Commented May 25, 2021 at 13:56
struct A { int x = 0; /*...*/ } might be interesting to compare... — Aconcagua
– Aconcagua, Commented May 25, 2021 at 13:58
"You can't do tests like this and conclude" @PaulMcKenzie: That's why OP ask question ;-) That kind of test is a first step, which might reject some hypothesis though. — Jarod42
– Jarod42, Commented May 25, 2021 at 13:59
Note: Simple tests for behaviour like this can easily be misleading. Do not use zero. It is too often a default filler value. For example, a program starting and clearing all of its initial memory to 0 is not uncommon. If you don't give the program a work out before running the test you'll likely get exactly the number, 0, you expected. — user4581301
– user4581301, Commented May 25, 2021 at 14:00

songyuanyao · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-25 14:12:43Z

4

For B::B(), x is direct-initialized as 0 explicitly in member initializer list.

For C::C(), x is value-initialized, as the result zero-initialized as 0 in member initializer list.

On the other hand, A::A() does nothing. Then for objects of type A with automatic and dynamic storage duration, x will be default-initialized to indeterminate value, i.e. not guaranteed to be 0. (Note that static and thread-local objects get zero-initialized.)

edited May 25, 2021 at 14:12

answered May 25, 2021 at 14:03

songyuanyao

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