View source for Constructor (object-oriented programming)

{{Short description|Special function called to create an object}}
{{ProgLangCompare}}
In [[class-based programming|class-based]], [[object-oriented programming]], a '''constructor''' (abbreviation: '''ctor''') is a special type of [[Function (computer programming)|function]] called to [[object creation|create an object]]. It prepares the new object for use, often accepting [[Parameter (computer programming)|arguments]] that the constructor uses to set required [[member variable]]s.
A constructor resembles an [[Method (computer programming)|instance method]], but it differs from a method in that it has no explicit [[return type]], it is not implicitly [[inheritance (object-oriented programming)|inherited]] and it usually has different rules for scope modifiers. Constructors often have the same name as the declaring [[class (computer science)|class]]. They have the task of [[initialization (computing)|initializing]] the object's [[data member]]s and of establishing the [[Class invariant|invariant of the class]], failing if the invariant is invalid. A properly written constructor leaves the resulting [[object (computer science)|object]] in a ''valid'' state. [[Immutable object]]s must be initialized in a constructor.
Most languages allow [[method overloading|overloading]] the constructor in that there can be more than one constructor for a class, with differing parameters. Some languages take consideration of some special types of constructors. Constructors, which concretely use a single class to create objects and return a new instance of the class, are abstracted by [[Factory (object-oriented programming)|factories]], which also create objects but can do so in various ways, using multiple classes or different allocation schemes such as an [[object pool]].
== Types ==
=== Parameterized constructors ===
Constructors that can take at least one argument are termed as parameterized constructors. When an object is declared in a parameterized constructor, the initial values have to be passed as arguments to the constructor function. The normal way of object declaration may not work. The constructors can be called explicitly or implicitly. The method of calling the constructor implicitly is also called the shorthand method.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
class Example {
public:
Example();
Example(int a, int b);  // Parameterized constructor.
private:
int x_;
int y_;
};
Example::Example() = default;
Example::Example(int x, int y) : x_(x), y_(y) {}
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
Example e = Example(0, 50);  // Explicit call.
Example e2(0, 50);  // Implicit call.
</syntaxhighlight>
=== Default constructors ===
If the programmer does not supply a constructor for an instantiable class, Java compiler inserts a [[default constructor]] into your code on your behalf. This constructor is known as default constructor. You would not find it in your source code (the java file) as it would be inserted into the code during compilation and exists in .class file. The behavior of the default constructor is language dependent. It may initialize data members to zero or other same values, or it may do nothing at all. In Java, a "default constructor"  refer to a nullary constructor that is automatically generated by the compiler if no constructors have been defined for the class or in the absence of any programmer-defined constructors (e.g. in Java, the default constructor implicitly calls the superclass's nullary constructor, then executes an empty body). All fields are left at their initial value of 0 (integer types), 0.0 (floating-point types), false (boolean type), or null (reference types)...
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#include <iostream>
class Student {
public:
Student(int a = 0, int b = 0);  // Default constructor.
int a;
int b;
};
</syntaxhighlight>
=== Copy constructors ===
{{see also|Copy constructor (C++)}}
Like C++, Java also supports "Copy Constructor". But, unlike C++, Java doesn't create a default copy constructor if you don't write your own. Copy constructors define the actions performed by the compiler when copying class objects. A Copy constructor has one formal parameter that is the type of the class (the parameter may be a reference to an object). It is used to create a copy of an existing object of the same class. Even though both classes are the same, it counts as a conversion constructor.
While copy constructors are usually abbreviated copy ctor or cctor, they have nothing to do with class constructors used in [[.NET]] using the same abbreviation.
=== Conversion constructors ===
Conversion constructors provide a means for a compiler to implicitly create an object belonging to one class based on an object of a different type. These constructors are usually invoked implicitly to convert arguments or operands to an appropriate type, but they may also be called explicitly.
=== Move constructors ===
In C++, [[move constructor (C++)|move constructors]] take an Rvalue reference to an object of the class, and are used to implement ownership transfer of the parameter object's resources.
== Syntax ==
* [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[C++]], [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], [[ActionScript]], {{nowrap|[[PHP]] 4}} and [[MATLAB]] have a naming convention in which constructors have the same name as the class with which they are associated.
* In PHP 5, a recommended name for a constructor is <code>__construct</code>. For backwards compatibility, a method with the same name as the class will be called if <code>__construct</code> method can not be found. Since PHP 5.3.3, this works only for non-namespaced classes.<ref name="php5cpnstructor">[http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.decon.php Constructors and Destructors], from PHP online documentation</ref>
* In PHP 7, you should always name the constructor as <code>__construct</code>. Methods with the same name as the class will trigger an E_DEPRECATED level error.<ref name="php5cpnstructor">[http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.decon.php Constructors and Destructors], from PHP online documentation</ref>
* In [[Perl]], constructors are, by convention, named "new" and have to do a fair amount of object creation.
* In [[Moose perl|Moose object system]] for Perl, constructors (named ''new'') are automatically created and are extended by specifying a ''BUILD'' method.
* In [[Visual Basic .NET]], the constructor is called "<code>New</code>".
* In [[Python (programming language)|Python]], the constructor is split over two methods, "<code>__new__</code>" and "<code>__init__</code>". The <code>__new__</code> method is responsible for allocating memory for the instance, and receives the class as an argument (conventionally called "<code>cls</code>"). The <code>__init__</code> method (often called "the initialiser") is passed the newly created instance as an argument (conventionally called "<code>self</code>").<ref>[https://docs.python.org/3/reference/datamodel.html#basic-customization Data model], from Python online documentation</ref>
* [[Object Pascal]] constructors are signified by the keyword "<code>constructor</code>" and can have user-defined names (but are mostly called "<code>Create</code>").
* In [[Objective-C]], the constructor method is split across two methods, "<code>alloc</code>" and "<code>init</code>" with the <code>alloc</code> method setting aside (allocating) memory for an instance of the class, and the <code>init</code> method handling the bulk of initializing the instance. A call to the method "<code>new</code>" invokes both the <code>alloc</code> and the <code>init</code> methods, for the class instance.
== Memory organization ==
In Java, C#, and VB .NET, the constructor creates reference type objects in a special memory structure called the
"[[heap (data structure)|heap]]". Value types (such as int, double, etc.) are created in a sequential structure called the "[[stack (abstract data type)|stack]]".
VB .NET and C# also allow the use of the ''new'' operator to create value type objects, but these value type objects are created on the stack regardless of whether the operator is used or not.
In C++, objects are created on the stack when the constructor is invoked without the new operator, and created on the heap when the constructor is invoked with the new operator. Stack objects are deleted implicitly when they go out of scope, while heap objects must be deleted implicitly by a destructor or explicitly by using the ''delete'' operator.
== Language details ==<!-- see also Category:Programming language comparisons -->
Constructors are implemented in different [[programming language]]s in various ways, including:
=== C++ ===
In [[C++]], the name of the constructor is the name of the class. It returns nothing. It can have parameters like any [[Method (computer programming)|member function]]. Constructor functions are usually declared in the public section, but can also be declared in the protected and private sections, if the user wants to restrict access to them.
The constructor has two parts. First is the [[initializer list]] which follows the [[parameter (computer science)|parameter list]] and before the method body. It starts with a colon and entries are comma-separated. The initializer list is not required, but offers the opportunity to provide values for data members and avoid separate assignment statements. The initializer list is required if you have ''const'' or reference type data members, or members that do not have parameterless constructor logic. Assignments occur according to the order in which data members are declared (even if the order in the initializer list is different).<ref>https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1242830/constructor-initialization-list-evaluation-order Constructor</ref> The second part is the body, which is a normal method body enclosed in curly brackets.
C++ allows more than one constructor. The other constructors must have different parameters. Additionally constructors which contain parameters which are given default values, must adhere to the restriction that not all parameters are given a default value. This is a situation which only matters if there is a default constructor. The constructor of a [[base class]] (or base classes) can also be called by a derived class. Constructor functions are not inherited and their addresses cannot be referenced. When memory allocation is required, the ''new'' and ''delete'' operators are called implicitly.
A copy constructor has a parameter of the same type passed as ''const'' reference, for example ''Vector(const Vector& rhs)''. If it is not provided explicitly, the compiler uses the copy constructor for each member variable or simply copies values in case of primitive types. The default implementation is not efficient if the class has dynamically allocated members (or handles to other resources), because it can lead to double calls to ''delete'' (or double release of resources) upon destruction.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
class Foobar {
public:
Foobar(double r = 1.0,
double alpha = 0.0)  // Constructor, parameters with default values.
: x_(r * cos(alpha))    // <- Initializer list
{
y_ = r * sin(alpha);  // <- Normal assignment
}
private:
double x_;
double y_;
};
</syntaxhighlight>
Example invocations:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
Foobar a,
b(3),
c(5, M_PI/4);
</syntaxhighlight>
On returning objects from functions or passing objects by value, the objects copy constructor will be called implicitly, unless [[return value optimization]] applies.
C++ implicitly generates a default copy constructor which will call the copy constructors for all base classes and all member variables unless the programmer provides one, explicitly deletes the copy constructor (to prevent cloning) or one of the base classes or member variables copy constructor is deleted or not accessible (private). Most cases calling for a customized '''copy constructor''' (e.g. [[reference counting]], [[deep copy]] of pointers) also require customizing the '''destructor''' and the '''copy assignment operator'''. This is commonly referred to as the [[Rule of three (C++ programming)|Rule of three]].
=== C# ===
Example [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] constructor:
<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
public class MyClass
{
private int a;
private string b;
// Constructor
public MyClass() : this(42, "string")
{
}
// Overloading a constructor
public MyClass(int a, string b)
{
this.a = a;
this.b = b;
}
}
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
// Code somewhere
// Instantiating an object with the constructor above
MyClass c = new MyClass(42, "string");
</syntaxhighlight>
==== C# static constructor ====
In [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], a ''static constructor'' is a static data initializer.<ref name=Albahari>{{cite book |last=Albahari |first=Joseph |title= C# 10 in a Nutshell |publisher= O'Reilly |isbn= 978-1-098-12195-2}}</ref>{{rp|111-112}}  Static constructors are also called ''class constructors''. Since the actual method generated has the name ''.cctor'' they are often also called "cctors".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ericlippert.com/2013/02/06/static-constructors-part-one/ |title=Fabulous Adventures in Coding |publisher=Eric Lippert |date=2013-02-06|access-date=2014-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oAcCRKd6EZgC&pg=PA222 |title=Expert .NET 2.0 IL Assembler |publisher=APress |date=2006-01-01|isbn=9781430202233 |access-date=2014-04-05}}</ref>
Static constructors allow complex static variable initialization.<ref>[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/k9x6w0hc%28VS.80%29.aspx Static Constructor in C# on MSDN]</ref>
Static constructors are called implicitly when the class is first accessed. Any call to a class (static or constructor call), triggers the static constructor execution.
Static constructors are [[thread safe]] and implement a [[singleton pattern]]. When used in a [[generic programming]] class, static constructors are called at every new generic instantiation one per type.<ref name=Skeet>{{cite book |last=Skeet|first=Jon|title= C# in Depth |publisher= Manning |isbn= 978-1617294532}}</ref>{{rp|38}}<ref name=Albahari>{{cite book |last=Albahari |first=Joseph |title= C# 10 in a Nutshell |publisher= O'Reilly |isbn= 978-1-098-12195-2}}</ref>{{rp|111}} Static variables are instantiated as well.
<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
public class MyClass
{
private static int _A;
// Normal constructor
static MyClass()
{
_A = 32;
}
// Standard default constructor
public MyClass()
{
}
}
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
// Code somewhere
// Instantiating an object with the constructor above
// right before the instantiation
// The variable static constructor is executed and _A is 32
MyClass c = new MyClass();
</syntaxhighlight>
=== ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) ===
[[ColdFusion Markup Language]] (CFML) uses a method named '<code>init</code>' as a constructor method.
'''Cheese.cfc'''
<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript">
component {
// properties
property name="cheeseName";
// constructor
function Cheese init( required string cheeseName ) {
variables.cheeseName = arguments.cheeseName;
return this;
}
}
</syntaxhighlight>
Create instance of a cheese.
<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript">
myCheese = new Cheese( 'Cheddar' );
</syntaxhighlight>
Since ColdFusion 10,<ref>[https://wikidocs.adobe.com/wiki/display/coldfusionen/cfcomponent CFComponent]</ref> CFML has also supported specifying the name of the constructor method:
<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript">
component initmethod="Cheese" {
// properties
property name="cheeseName";
// constructor
function Cheese Cheese( required string cheeseName ) {
variables.cheeseName = arguments.cheeseName;
return this;
}
}
</syntaxhighlight>
=== Eiffel ===
In [[Eiffel (programming language)|Eiffel]], the routines which initialize new objects are called ''creation procedures''. Creation procedures have the following traits:
* Creation procedures have no explicit return type (by definition of ''procedure'').{{Efn|Eiffel ''routines'' are either ''procedures'' or ''functions''. Procedures never have a return type. Functions always have a return type.}}
* Creation procedures are named.
* Creation procedures are designated by name as creation procedures in the text of the class.
* Creation procedures can be explicitly invoked to re-initialize existing objects.
* Every effective (i.e., concrete or non-abstract) class must designate at least one creation procedure.
* Creation procedures must leave the newly initialized object in a state that satisfies the class invariant.{{Efn|Because the inherited class invariant must be satisfied, there is no mandatory call to the parents' constructors.}}
Although object creation involves some subtleties,<ref name="eiffel standard">[http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-367.htm Eiffel ISO/ECMA specification document]</ref> the creation of an attribute with a typical declaration <code lang="eiffel">x: T</code> as expressed in a creation instruction <code lang="eiffel">create x.make</code> consists of the following sequence of steps:
* Create a new direct instance of type <code lang="eiffel">T</code>.{{Efn|The Eiffel standard requires fields to be initialized on first access, so it is not necessary to perform default field initialization during object creation.}}
* Execute the creation procedure <code lang="eiffel">make</code> to the newly created instance.
* Attach the newly initialized object to the entity <code lang="eiffel">x</code>.
In the first snippet below, class <code lang="eiffel">POINT</code> is defined. The procedure <code lang="eiffel">make</code> is coded after the keyword <code lang="eiffel">feature</code>.
The keyword <code lang="eiffel">create</code> introduces a list of procedures which can be used to initialize instances. In this case the list includes <code lang="eiffel">default_create</code>, a procedure with an empty implementation inherited from class <code lang="eiffel">ANY</code>, and the <code lang="eiffel">make</code> procedure coded within the class.
<syntaxhighlight lang="eiffel">
class
POINT
create
default_create, make
feature
make (a_x_value: REAL; a_y_value: REAL)
do
x := a_x_value
y := a_y_value
end
x: REAL
-- X coordinate
y: REAL
-- Y coordinate
...
</syntaxhighlight>
In the second snippet, a class which is a client to <code lang="eiffel">POINT</code> has a declarations <code lang="eiffel">my_point_1</code> and <code lang="eiffel">my_point_2</code> of type <code lang="eiffel">POINT</code>.
In procedural code, <code lang="eiffel">my_point_1</code> is created as the origin (0.0, 0.0). Because no creation procedure is specified, the procedure <code lang="eiffel">default_create</code> inherited from class <code lang="eiffel">ANY</code> is used. This line could have been coded <code lang="eiffel">create my_point_1.default_create</code> .
Only procedures named as creation procedures can be used in an instruction with the <code lang="eiffel">create</code> keyword.
Next is a creation instruction for <code lang="eiffel">my_point_2</code>, providing initial values for the <code lang="eiffel">my_point_2</code>'s coordinates.
The third instruction makes an ordinary instance call to the <code lang="eiffel">make</code> procedure to reinitialize the instance attached to <code lang="eiffel">my_point_2</code> with different values.
<syntaxhighlight lang="eiffel">
my_point_1: POINT
my_point_2: POINT
...
create my_point_1
create my_point_2.make (3.0, 4.0)
my_point_2.make (5.0, 8.0)
...
</syntaxhighlight>
=== F# ===
In [[F Sharp (programming language)|F#]], a constructor can include any <code>let</code> or <code>do</code> statements defined in a class. <code>let</code> statements define private fields and <code>do</code> statements execute code. Additional constructors can be defined using the <code>new</code> keyword.
<syntaxhighlight lang="fsharp">
type MyClass(_a : int, _b : string) = class
// Primary constructor
let a = _a
let b = _b
do printfn "a = %i, b = %s" a b
// Additional constructors
new(_a : int) = MyClass(_a, "") then
printfn "Integer parameter given"
new(_b : string) = MyClass(0, _b) then
printfn "String parameter given"
new() = MyClass(0, "") then
printfn "No parameter given"
end
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang = "fsharp">
// Code somewhere
// instantiating an object with the primary constructor
let c1 = new MyClass(42, "string")
// instantiating an object with additional constructors
let c2 = new MyClass(42)
let c3 = new MyClass("string")
let c4 = MyClass() // "new" keyword is optional
</syntaxhighlight>
=== Java ===
In [[Java (programming language)|Java]], constructors differ from other methods in that:
* Constructors never have an explicit return type.
* Constructors cannot be directly invoked (the keyword “<code>new</code>” invokes them).
* Constructors should not have non-access modifiers.
Java constructors perform the following tasks in the following order:
# Call the default constructor of the superclass if no constructor is defined.
# Initialize member variables to the specified values.
# Executes the body of the constructor.
Java permit users to call one constructor in another constructor using <code>this()</code> keyword.
But <code>this()</code> must be first statement. <ref>[https://ranjeetkumarmaurya.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/constructor-in-java/ Details on Constructor in java]</ref>
<syntaxhighlight lang="java">
class Example
{
Example() // Non-parameterized constructor
{
this(1);  // Calling of constructor
System.out.println("0-arg-cons");
}
Example(int a) // Parameterized constructor
{
System.out.println("1-arg-cons");
}
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Example e = new Example();
}
</syntaxhighlight>
Java provides access to the [[superclass (computer science)|superclass's]] constructor through the <code>super</code> keyword.
<syntaxhighlight lang="java">
public class Example
{
// Definition of the constructor.
public Example()
{
this(1);
}
// Overloading a constructor
public Example(int input)
{
data = input; // This is an assignment
}
// Declaration of instance variable(s).
private int data;
}
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="java">
// Code somewhere else
// Instantiating an object with the above constructor
Example e = new Example(42);
</syntaxhighlight>
A constructor taking zero number of arguments is called a "no-arguments" or "no-arg" constructor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/constructors.html|title= Providing Constructors for Your Classes |publisher=Oracle Corporation|date=2013|access-date=2013-12-20}}</ref>
=== JavaScript ===
As of ES6, [[JavaScript]] has direct constructors like many other programming languages. They are written as such
<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript">
class FooBar {
constructor(baz) {
this.baz = baz
}
}
</syntaxhighlight>
This can be instantiated as such
<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript">
const foo = new FooBar('7')
</syntaxhighlight>
The equivalent of this before ES6, was creating a function that instantiates an object as such
<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript">
function FooBar (baz) {
this.baz = baz;
}
</syntaxhighlight>
This is instantiated the same way as above.
=== Object Pascal ===
In [[Object Pascal]], the constructor is similar to a [[factory method]]. The only syntactic difference to regular methods is the keyword <code>constructor</code> in front of the name (instead of <code>procedure</code> or <code>function</code>). It can have any name, though the convention is to have <code>Create</code> as prefix, such as in <code>CreateWithFormatting</code>. Creating an instance of a class works like calling a static method of a class: <code>TPerson.Create('Peter')</code>.
<syntaxhighlight lang="delphi">
program OopProgram;
type
TPerson = class
private
FName: string;
public
property Name: string read FName;
constructor Create(AName: string);
end;
constructor TPerson.Create(AName: string);
begin
FName := AName;
end;
var
Person: TPerson;
begin
Person := TPerson.Create('Peter'); // allocates an instance of TPerson and then calls TPerson.Create with the parameter AName = 'Peter'
end.
</syntaxhighlight>
=== OCaml ===
In [[OCaml]], there is one constructor. Parameters are defined right after the class name. They can be used to initialize instance variables and are accessible throughout the class. An anonymous hidden method called <code>initializer</code> allows to evaluate an expression immediately after the object has been built.<ref>[http://caml.inria.fr/pub/docs/manual-ocaml/ OCaml manual]</ref>
<syntaxhighlight lang="ocaml">
class person first_name last_name =
object
val full_name = first_name ^ " " ^ last_name
initializer
print_endline("Hello there, I am " ^ full_name ^ ".")
method get_last_name = last_name
end;;
let alonzo = new person "Alonzo" "Church" in (*Hello there, I am Alonzo Church.*)
print_endline alonzo#get_last_name (*Church*)
</syntaxhighlight>
=== PHP ===
In [[PHP]] version 5 and above, the constructor is a method named <code>__construct()</code> (notice that it's a double underscore), which the keyword <code>new</code> automatically calls after creating the object. It is usually used to automatically perform initializations such as property initializations. Constructors can also accept arguments, in which case, when the <code>new</code> statement is written, you also need to send the constructor arguments for the parameters.<ref name="php5cpnstructor"/>
<syntaxhighlight lang="php">
class Person
{
private string $name;
public function __construct(string $name): void
{
$this->name = $name;
}
public function getName(): string
{
return $this->name;
}
}
</syntaxhighlight>
In PHP, a class is only allowed to declare a maximum of one constructor method. Static methods, factory classes or optional constructor arguments are some ways to facilitate multiple ways to create objects of a PHP class.
=== Perl 5 ===
In [[Perl]] version 5, by default, constructors are [[factory method]]s, that is, methods that create and return the object, concretely meaning create and return a blessed reference. A typical object is a reference to a hash, though rarely references to other types are used too.  By convention the only constructor is named ''new'', though it is allowed to name it otherwise, or to have multiple constructors. For example, a Person class may have a constructor named ''new'', and a constructor ''new_from_file'' which reads a file for Person attributes, and ''new_from_person'' which uses another Person object as a template.
<syntaxhighlight lang="perl">
package Person;
# In Perl constructors are named 'new' by convention.
sub new {
# Class name is implicitly passed in as 0th argument.
my $class = shift;
# Default attribute values, if you have any.
my %defaults = ( foo => "bar" );
# Initialize attributes as a combination of default values and arguments passed.
my $self = { %defaults, @_ };
# Check for required arguments, class invariant, etc.
if ( not defined $self->{first_name} ) {
die "Mandatory attribute missing in Person->new(): first_name";
}
if ( not defined $self->{last_name} ) {
die "Mandatory attribute missing in Person->new(): last_name";
}
if ( defined $self->{age} and $self->{age} < 18 ) {
die "Invalid attribute value in Person->new(): age < 18";
}
# Perl makes an object belong to a class by 'bless'.
bless $self, $class;
return $self;
}
1;
</syntaxhighlight>
==== Perl 5 with Moose ====
In the [[Moose perl|Moose object system]] for Perl, most of this boilerplate can be omitted, a default ''new'' is created, attributes can be specified, and whether they can be set, reset, or are required. In addition, any extra constructor functionality can be included in a ''BUILD'' method which the Moose generated constructor will call, after it has checked the arguments.  A ''BUILDARGS'' method can be specified to handle constructor arguments not in hashref / key => value form.
<syntaxhighlight lang="perl">
package Person;
# enable Moose-style object construction
use Moose;
# first name ( a string) can only be set at construction time ('ro')
has first_name => (is => 'ro', isa => 'Str', required => 1);
# last name ( a string) can only be set at construction time ('ro')
has last_name  => (is => 'ro', isa => 'Str', required => 1);
# age (Integer) can be modified after construction ('rw'), and is not required
# to be passed to be constructor.  Also creates a 'has_age' method which returns
# true if age has been set
has age        => (is => 'rw', isa => 'Int', predicate => 'has_age');
# Check custom requirements
sub BUILD {
my $self = shift;
if ($self->has_age && $self->age < 18) { # no under 18s
die "No under-18 Persons";
}
}
1;
</syntaxhighlight>
In both cases the Person class is instiated like this:
<syntaxhighlight lang="perl">
use Person;
my $p = Person->new( first_name => 'Sam', last_name => 'Ashe', age => 42 );
</syntaxhighlight>
=== Python ===
In [[Python (programming language)|Python]], constructors are defined by one or both of <code>__new__</code> and <code>__init__</code> methods. A new instance is created by calling the class as if it were a function, which calls the <code>__new__</code> and <code>__init__</code> methods. If a constructor method is not defined in the class, the next one found in the class's [[C3 linearization|Method Resolution Order]] will be called.<ref>[https://docs.python.org/3/reference/datamodel.html Data model]</ref>
In the typical case, only the <code>__init__</code> method need be defined. (The most common exception is for immutable objects.)
<syntaxhighlight lang="pycon">
>>> class ExampleClass:
...     def __new__(cls, value):
...         print("Creating new instance...")
...         # Call the superclass constructor to create the instance.
...         instance = super(ExampleClass, cls).__new__(cls)
...         return instance
...     def __init__(self, value):
...         print("Initialising instance...")
...         self.payload = value
>>> exampleInstance = ExampleClass(42)
Creating new instance...
Initialising instance...
>>> print(exampleInstance.payload)
42
</syntaxhighlight>
Classes normally act as [[Factory (object-oriented programming)|factories]] for new instances of themselves, that is, a class is a callable object (like a function), with the call being the constructor, and calling the class returns an instance of that class. However the <code>__new__</code> method is permitted to return something other than an instance of the class for specialised purposes. In that case, the <code>__init__</code> is not invoked.<ref>[https://docs.python.org/3/reference/datamodel.html#object.__new__ Data model]</ref>
=== Raku ===
In [[Raku (programming language)|Raku]], even more boilerplate can be omitted, given that a default ''new'' method is inherited, attributes can be specified, and whether they can be set, reset, or are required. In addition, any extra constructor functionality can be included in a ''BUILD'' method which will get called to allow for custom initialization.  A ''TWEAK'' method can be specified to post-process any attributes already (implicitly) initialized.
<syntaxhighlight lang="perl6">
class Person {
has Str $.first-name is required; # First name (a string) can only be set at
# construction time (the . means "public").
has Str $.last-name is required;  # Last name (a string) can only be set at
# construction time (a ! would mean "private").
has Int $.age is rw;              # Age (an integer) can be modified after
# construction ('rw'), and is not required
# during the object instantiation.
# Create a 'full-name' method which returns the person's full name.
# This method can be accessed outside the class.
method full-name { $!first-name.tc ~ " " ~ $!last-name.tc }
# Create a 'has-age' method which returns true if age has been set.
# This method is used only inside the class so it's declared as "private"
# by prepending its name with a !
method !has-age { self.age.defined }
# Check custom requirements
method TWEAK {
if self!has-age && $!age < 18 { # No under 18
die "No person under 18";
}
}
}
</syntaxhighlight>
The Person class is instantiated like this:
<syntaxhighlight lang="perl6">
my $p0 = Person.new( first-name => 'Sam', last-name => 'Ashe', age => 42 );
my $p1 = Person.new( first-name => 'grace', last-name => 'hopper' );
say $p1.full-name(); # OUTPUT: «Grace Hopper␤»
</syntaxhighlight>
Alternatively, the [[named parameter]]s can be specified using the colon-pair syntax in Perl 6:
<syntaxhighlight lang="perl6">
my $p0 = Person.new( :first-name<Sam>, :last-name<Ashe>, :age(42) );
my $p1 = Person.new( :first-name<Grace>, :last-name<Hopper> );
</syntaxhighlight>
And should you have set up variables with names identical to the named parameters, you can use a shortcut that will use the '''name''' of the variable for the named parameter:
<syntaxhighlight lang="perl6">
my $first-name = "Sam";
my $last-name  = "Ashe";
my $age        = 42;
my $p0 = Person.new( :$first-name, :$last-name, :$age );
</syntaxhighlight>
=== Ruby ===
In [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]], constructors are created by defining a method called <code>initialize</code>. This method is executed to initialize each new instance.
<syntaxhighlight lang="rbcon">
irb(main):001:0> class ExampleClass
irb(main):002:1>   def initialize
irb(main):003:2>     puts "Hello there"
irb(main):004:2>   end
irb(main):005:1> end
=> nil
irb(main):006:0> ExampleClass.new
Hello there
=> #<ExampleClass:0x007fb3f4299118>
</syntaxhighlight>
=== Visual Basic .NET ===
In [[Visual Basic .NET]], constructors use a method declaration with the name "<code>New</code>".
<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
Class Foobar
Private strData As String
' Constructor
Public Sub New(ByVal someParam As String)
strData = someParam
End Sub
End Class
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="vbnet">
' code somewhere else
' instantiating an object with the above constructor
Dim foo As New Foobar(".NET")
</syntaxhighlight>
== See also ==
* [[Resource acquisition is initialization]] (RAII)
* [[Allocation site]]
* [[Creational pattern]]
* [[Destructor (computer programming)]]
* [[Global constructor]] in C++, and its C counterpart, [[((constructor))]] function attribute
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
[[Category:Method (computer programming)]]
[[Category:Programming language comparisons]]