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Java

Posted by Olol Polpol
Olol Polpol
199 Points

mHits mMisses

Why do we initialize mHits and mMisses in the constructor?

2 Answers

Alexander Nikiforov
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Alexander Nikiforov
Java Web Development Techdegree Graduate 22,175 Points
Alexander Nikiforov
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Alexander Nikiforov
Java Web Development Techdegree Graduate 22,175 Points

We initialize any members in constructor, because

It makes it clear at a glance how the variable is initialized. Typically, when reading a program and coming across a variable, you'll first go to its declaration (often automatic in IDEs). With style 2, you see the default value right away. With style 1, you need to look at the constructor as well.

If you have more than one constructor, you don't have to repeat the initializations (and you cannot forget them).

Taken from here: very very nice explanation with example

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3918578/should-i-initialize-variable-within-constructor-or-outside-constructor

Olol Polpol
Olol Polpol
199 Points
Olol Polpol
Olol Polpol
199 Points

but why do we initialise them in the constructor? we don't have more than 1 constructor

Alexander Nikiforov
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Alexander Nikiforov
Java Web Development Techdegree Graduate 22,175 Points

Now I don't understand your question at all...

It is one of the purposes of constructors: to initialize in them members ...

If you initialize member variables somewhere outside constructor, you better have very very significant reasons to do it.... Which I honestly don't know.

Constructor is first of all helpful tool to initialize Class with certain members set.

You can always write

SomeClass someClass = new SomeClass();
someClass.setMember("memberString");

But why?

When you can simply write

SomeClass someClass = new SomeClass("memberString");

We are simply reducing code we write, by using constructors with many arguments, that's it