Default constructors

Default constructors

As mentioned previously, a default constructor is one without arguments, used to create a "vanilla object." If you create a class that has no constructors, the compiler will automatically create a default constructor for you. For example:

The line

creates a new object and calls the default constructor, even though one was not explicitly defined. Without it we would have no method to call to build our object. However, if you define any constructors (with or without arguments), the compiler will not synthesize one for you:

Now if you say:

the compiler will complain that it cannot find a constructor that matches. It's as if when you don't put in any constructors, the compiler says "You are bound to need some constructor, so let me make one for you." But if you write a constructor, the compiler says "You've written a constructor so you know what you're doing; if you didn't put in a default it's because you meant to leave it out."