The document discusses constructors, destructors, and operator overloading in C++, covering topics such as default and parameterized constructors, copy constructors, and dynamic constructors. It details how constructors initialize objects, while destructors are responsible for object destruction and memory deallocation. Additionally, it highlights the syntax and examples illustrating the implementation and usage of these features in C++ programming.

1. CONSTRUCTORS, DESTRUCTORS AND OPERATOR OVERLOADING
1. Constructors,
2. Multiple constructors in a class,
3. Copy constructor,
4. Dynamic constructor,
5. Destructors,
6. Operator overloading,
7. Overloading Unary and binary operators,
8. Manipulation of strings using operators.
Ms.S.DEEPA M.E.,(Ph.d.)
Assistant Professor (SL.G)
Computer Science and Engineering
KIT-Kalaignarkarunanidhi Institute Of Technology

2. Constructors in C++
• Constructor in C++ is a special method that is invoked automatically at
the time of object creation.
• It is used to initialize the data members of new objects generally. The
constructor in C++ has the same name as the class or structure.
• Constructor is invoked at the time of object creation. It constructs the
values i.e. provides data for the object which is why it is known as
constructors.

3. • Constructor is a member function of a class, whose name is same as the
class name.
• Constructor is a special type of member function that is used to initialize
the data members for an object of a class automatically, when an object
of the same class is created.
• Constructor is invoked at the time of object creation. It constructs the
values i.e. provides data for the object that is why it is known as
constructor.
• Constructor do not return value, hence they do not have a return type.
The prototype of the constructor looks like
<class-name> (list-of-parameters);

4. <class-name> (list-of-parameters)
{
// constructor definition
}

5. The following syntax is used to define a constructor outside of a class:
<class-name>: :<class-name> (list-of parameters)
{
// constructor definition
}

6. There can be two types of constructors in C++.
• Default constructor
• Parameterized constructor

7. 1.#include <iostream>
2.using namespace std;
3.class Employee
4. {
5. public:
6. Employee()
7. {
8. cout<<"Default Constructor Invoked"<<endl;
9. }
10.};
11.int main(void)
12.{
13. Employee e1; //creating an object of Employee
14. Employee e2;
15. return 0;
16.}

8. Default Constructor Invoked
Default Constructor Invoked

9. C++ Parameterized Constructor
• A constructor which has parameters is called parameterized constructor.
It is used to provide different values to distinct objects.
• Let's see the simple example of C++ Parameterized Constructor.

10. #include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Employee {
public:
int id;//data member (also instance vari
able)
string name;//data member(also instanc
e variable)
float salary;
Employee(int i, string n, float s)
{
id = i;
name = n;
salary = s;
}
void display()
{
cout<<id<<" "<<name<<" "<<salary<
<endl;
}
};
int main(void) {
Employee e1 =Employee(101, "Sonoo", 89
0000); //creating an object of Employee
Employee e2=Employee(102, "Nakul", 59
000);
e1.display();
e2.display();
return 0;
}

11. 101 Sonoo 890000
102 Nakul 59000

12. Multiple constructors in a class
class integer
{
int m,n;
public:
integer() // constructor first
{
m=0;
n=0;
}
integer(int a,int b)
// constructor second
{
m=a;
n=b;
}
integer(integer &i)
// constructor Third
{
m=i.m;
n=i.n;
}
};

13. This declares three constructor for an integer object.
• The first constructor receives no arguments, and
• The second case receive two integer arguments and
• the third receives one integer object as an argument.

14. • Types of Constructors
1. Default Constructors:
Default constructor is the constructor which doesn’t take any argument.
It has no parameters.
It is also called a zero-argument constructor.

15. // concept of Constructors
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class construct {
public:
int a, b;
// Default Constructor
construct()
{
a = 10;
b = 20;
}
};
int main()
{
// Default constructor called
automatically
// when the object is created
construct c;
cout << "a: " << c.a << endl <<
"b: " << c.b;
return 1;
}

16. Output
a: 10
b: 20
Note: Even if we do not define any constructor explicitly, the compiler
will automatically provide a default constructor implicitly.

17. #include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class student{
int rno;
char name[50];
double fee;
public:
student()
// Explicit Default
constructor
{
cout<<"Enter the RollNo:";
cin>>rno;
cout<<"Enter the Name:";
cin>>name;
cout<<"Enter the Fee:";
cin>>fee;
}
void display() {
cout<<endl<<rno<<"t"<<name<<
"t"<<fee;
} };
int main() {
student s;
s.display();
return 0; }

18. Parameterized Constructors:
It is possible to pass arguments to constructors.
Typically, these arguments help initialize an object when it is created.
To create a parameterized constructor, simply add parameters to it
the way you would to any other function.
When you define the constructor’s body, use the parameters to
initialize the object.
Note: when the parameterized constructor is defined and no default
constructor is defined explicitly, the compiler will not implicitly call the
default constructor and hence creating a simple object as
Student s;
Will flash an error

19. // parameterized constructors
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Point {
private:
int x, y;
public:
// Parameterized Constructor
Point(int x1, int y1){
x = x1;
y = y1;
}
int getX() { return x; }
int getY() { return y; }
};
int main() {
// Constructor called
Point p1(10, 15);
// Access values assigned by
constructor
cout << "p1.x = " << p1.getX()
<< ", p1.y = " << p1.getY();
return 0;
}

20. • Output
p1.x = 10,
p1.y = 15

21. #include<iostream>
#include<string.h>
using namespace std;
class student
{
int rno;
char name[50];
double fee;
public:
student(int,char[],double);
void display();
};
student::student(int no,char n[],double f)
{
rno=no;
strcpy(name,n);
fee=f;
}
void student::display()
{
cout<<endl<<rno<<"t"<<name<<"t
"<<fee;
}
int main()
{
student s(1001,"Ram",10000);
s.display();
return 0;
}

22. 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.
Example
e = Example(0, 50); // Explicit call
Example
e(0, 50); // Implicit call
•Uses of Parameterized constructor:
1.It is used to initialize the various data elements of different
objects with different values when they are created.
2.It is used to overload constructors.
•Can we have more than one constructor in a class?
Yes, It is called Constructor Overloading.

23. 3. Copy Constructor:
A copy constructor is a member function that initializes an object
using another object of the same class.
Whenever we define one or more non-default constructors( with
parameters ) for a class, a default constructor( without parameters )
should also be explicitly defined as the compiler will not provide a
default constructor in this case. However, it is not necessary but it’s
considered to be the best practice to always define a default
constructor.
Copy constructor takes a reference to an object of the same class as
an argument.
Sample(Sample &t)
{
id=t.id;
}

24. integer int1; // implicit default constructor
integer int1(1, 100); // explicit two-arg constructor
integer int1 = integer(0, 100);
// explicit two-arg constructor, implicit copy constructor

26. include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class point {
private:
double x, y;
public:
// Non-default Constructor
&
// default Constructor
point(double px, double py)
{ x = px, y = py; }
};
int main(void)
{
// Define an array of size
// 10 & of type point
// This line will cause
error
point a[10];
// Remove above line and
program
// will compile without
error
point b = point(5, 6);
}

27. // Implicit copy constructor
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class Sample
{ int id;
public:
void init(int x)
{
id=x;
}
void display()
{
cout<<endl<<"ID="<<id;
}
};
int main()
{
Sample obj1;
obj1.init(10);
obj1.display();
Sample obj2(obj1); //or obj2=obj1;
obj2.display();
return 0;
}

28. Output
ID=10
ID=10

29. // Example: Explicit copy constructor
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Sample
{
int id;
public:
void init(int x)
{
id=x;
}
Sample(){} //default constructor with empty body
Sample(Sample &t) //copy constructor
{
id=t.id;
}
void display()
{
cout<<endl<<"ID="<<id;
}
};
int main()
{
Sample obj1;
obj1.init(10);
obj1.display();
Sample obj2(obj1); //or obj2=obj1; copy constructor called
obj2.display();
return 0;
}

30. #include<iostream>
#include<string.h>
using namespace std;
class student
{
int rno;
char name[50];
double fee;
public:
student(int,char[],double);
student(student &t) //copy constructor
{
rno=t.rno;
strcpy(name,t.name);
fee=t.fee;
}
void display();
};
student::student(int no,char n[],double f)
{
rno=no;
strcpy(name,n);
fee=f;
}
void student::display()
{
cout<<endl<<rno<<"t"<<name<<"t"<<fee;
}
int main()
{
student s(1001,"Manjeet",10000);
s.display();
student manjeet(s); //copy constructor called
manjeet.display();
return 0;
}

31. 1001 Manjeet 10000
1001 Manjeet 10000

32. #include<iostream>
#include<string.h>
using namespace std;
class student{
int rno;
char name[50];
double fee;
public:
student(int,char[],double);
student(student &t) //copy constructor (member wise
initialization)
{
rno=t.rno
strcpy(name,t.name);
}
void display();
void disp(){
cout<<endl<<rno<<"t"<<name;
}
};
student::student(int no, char n[],double f) {
rno=no;
strcpy(name,n);
fee=f;
}
void student::display()
{
cout<<endl<<rno<<"t"<<name<<"t"<<fee;
}
int main() {
student s(1001,"Manjeet",10000);
s.display();
student manjeet(s); //copy constructor called
manjeet.disp();
return 0; }

33. #include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class code
{
int id;
public :
Code()
{
}
Code(int a){
Id=a;}
Code(code &x)
{
id=x.id;
}
void display()
{
cout << id;
}
};
void main()
{
code A(100); //object A is created and
initialized
code B(A); // copy constructor called
code C=A; // copy constructor called
again
code D; // D is created, not initialized
D=A; // copy constructor not called
std::cout << "n id of A:";
A.display();
std::cout<<"n id of B:";
B.display();
std::cout<<"n id if C:";
C.display();
std::cout<<"n id of D:";
D.display();
}

34. // COPY CONSTRUCTOR
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class code
{
int id;
public :
Code()
{
}
Code()
{
id=x.id;
}
void display()
{
cout << id;
}
};
void main()
{
code A(100); //object A is created and
initialized
code B(A); // copy constructor called
code C=A; // copy constructor called
again
code D; // D is created, not initialized
D=A; // copy constructor not called
std::cout << "n id of A:";
A.display();
std::cout<<"n id of B:";
B.display();
std::cout<<"n id if C:";
C.display();
std::cout<<"n id of D:";
D.display();
}

35. #include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class code{
int id;
public :
Code(){
}
Code(){
id=x.id;
}
void display(){
cout << id;
}
};
void main()
{
code A(100); //object A is created
and initialized
code B(A); // copy constructor called
code C=A; // copy constructor called
again
code D; // D is created, not initialized
D=A; // copy constructor not called
std::cout << "n id of A:";
A.display();
std::cout<<"n id of B:";
B.display();
std::cout<<"n id if C:";
C.display();
std::cout<<"n id of D:";
D.display();
}

36. • id of A: 100
id of B: 100
id of C: 100
id of D: 100

37. Copy constructor
• A Copy constructor is an overloaded constructor used to declare and
initialize an object from another object.
Copy Constructor is of two types:
• Default Copy constructor: The compiler defines the default copy
constructor. If the user defines no copy constructor, compiler supplies its
constructor.
• User Defined constructor: The programmer defines the user-defined
constructor.

39. • Syntax Of User-defined Copy Constructor:
Class_name(const class_name &old_object);
class A
{
A(A &x) // copy constructor.
{
// copyconstructor.
}
}

40. #include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
public:
int x;
A(int a) // parameterized construc
{
x=a;
}
A(A &i) // copy constructor
{
x = i.x;
}
};
int main()
{
A a1(20); // Calling the parame constru
A a2(a1); // Calling the copy constructor
cout<<a2.x;
return 0;
}
• 20

41. Copy Constructor is called in the following scenarios:
• When we initialize the object with another existing object of the same
class type. For example, Student s1 = s2, where Student is the class.
• When the object of the same class type is passed by value as an
argument.
• When the function returns the object of the same class type by value.

42. #include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class jtp {
int* ptr;
public:
jtp()
{
ptr = new int;
*ptr = 10;
}
void display()
{
cout<< *ptr<<endl;
}
};
int main()
{
jtp obj1;
obj1.display();
return 0;
}

43. Dynamic Constructor in C++ with Examples
• When allocation of memory is done dynamically using dynamic memory
allocator new in a constructor, it is known as dynamic constructor. By using
this, we can dynamically initialize the objects.
• In this we point data member of type char which is allocated memory
dynamically by new operator and when we create dynamic memory within
the constructor of class this is known as dynamic constructor.

44. #include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class geeks {
const char* p;
public:
// default constructor
geeks()
{
// allocating memory at run time
p = new char[6];
p = "geeks";
}
void display() { cout << p << endl;
}
};
int main()
{
geeks obj;
obj.display();
}

45. class geeks {
int* p;
public:
// default constructor
geeks() {
// allocating memory at run
time
p = new int;
*p = 0; }
// parameterized constructor
geeks(int x) {
p = new int;
*p = x; }
void display() {
cout << *p << endl; }
// Deallocate the dynamically
allocated memory
~geeks()
{
delete p;
}
};
int main() {
// default constructor would be
called
geeks obj1 = geeks();
obj1.display();
// parameterized constructor would
be called
geeks obj2 = geeks(7);
obj2.display(); }

46. Explanation:
In this integer type pointer variable is declared in class which is assigned
memory dynamically when the constructor is called.
When we create object obj1, the default constructor is called and memory is
assigned dynamically to pointer type variable and initialized with value 0.
And similarly when obj2 is created parameterized constructor is called and
memory is assigned dynamically.

47. C++ Destructor
• A destructor works opposite to constructor; it destructs the objects of
classes. It can be defined only once in a class. Like constructors, it is
invoked automatically.
• A destructor is defined like constructor. It must have same name as
class. But it is prefixed with a tilde sign (~).

48. What is a destructor?
Destructor is an instance member function that is invoked automatically whenever an
object is going to be destroyed. Meaning, a destructor is the last function that is going
to be called before an object is destroyed.
• A destructor is also a special member function like a constructor. Destructor destroys
the class objects created by the constructor.
• Destructor has the same name as their class name preceded by a tilde (~) symbol.
• It is not possible to define more than one destructor.
• The destructor is only one way to destroy the object created by the constructor.
Hence destructor can-not be overloaded.
• Destructor neither requires any argument nor returns any value.
• It is automatically called when an object goes out of scope.
• Destructor release memory space occupied by the objects created by the
constructor.
• In destructor, objects are destroyed in the reverse of an object creation.

49. The syntax for defining the destructor within the class:
~ <class-name>()
{
// some instructions
}
The syntax for defining the destructor outside the class:
<class-name> :: ~<class-name>()
{
// some instructions
}

50. #include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Employee
{
public:
Employee()
{
cout<<"Constructor Invoked"<<
endl;
}
~Employee()
{
cout<<"Destructor Invoked"<<e
ndl;
}
};
int main(void)
{
Employee e1; //creating an object of
Employee
Employee e2; //creating an object of
Employee
return 0;
}

51. Constructor Invoked
Constructor Invoked
Destructor Invoked
Destructor Invoked

52. #include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class construct
{
public:
float area;
// Constructor with no parameters
construct()
{
area = 0;
}
// Constructor with two parameters
construct(int a, int b)
{
area = a * b;
}
void disp()
{
cout<< area<< endl;
}
};
int main()
{
// Constructor Overloading
// with two different constructors
// of class name
construct o;
construct o2( 10, 20);
o.disp();
o2.disp();
return 1;
}

53. Operator overloading is a compile-time polymorphism. It is an idea
of giving special meaning to an existing operator in C++ without
changing its original meaning.
• In C++, we can make operators work for user-defined classes. This
means C++ has the ability to provide the operators with a special
meaning for a data type, this ability is known as operator overloading.
• For example, we can overload an operator ‘+’ in a class like String so
that we can concatenate two strings by just using +.
• Other example classes where arithmetic operators may be overloaded
are Complex Numbers, Fractional Numbers, Big integers, etc.
Example:
int a;
float b, sum;
sum = a + b;

54. // C++ Program to Demonstrate the
// working/Logic behind Operator
// Overloading
class A {
statements;
};
int main()
{
A a1, a2, a3;
a3 = a1 + a2;
return 0;
}

55. • In this example, we have 3 variables “a1”, “a2” and “a3” of type “class A”.
Here we are trying to add two objects “a1” and “a2”, which are of user-
defined type i.e. of type “class A” using the “+” operator.
• This is not allowed, because the addition operator “+” is predefined to
operate only on built-in data types.
• But here, “class A” is a user-defined type, so the compiler generates an error.
This is where the concept of “Operator overloading” comes in.
• Now, if the user wants to make the operator “+” add two class objects, the
user has to redefine the meaning of the “+” operator such that it adds two
class objects.

56. • This is done by using the concept of “Operator overloading”. So the main
idea behind “Operator overloading” is to use C++ operators with class
variables or class objects.
• Redefining the meaning of operators really does not change their original
meaning; instead, they have been given additional meaning along with their
existing ones.

57. class Complex {
private:
int real, imag;
public:
Complex(int r = 0, int i = 0)
{
real = r;
imag = i;
}
// This is automatically called when '+' is
used with
// between two Complex objects
Complex operator+(Complex const&
obj)
{
Complex res;
res.real = real + obj.real;
res.imag = imag + obj.imag;
return res;
}
void print() { cout << real << " + i" <<
imag << 'n'; }
};
int main()
{
Complex c1(10, 5), c2(2, 4);
Complex c3 = c1 + c2;
c3.print();
}

58. C++ Operators Overloading
• Operator overloading is a compile-time polymorphism in which the operator
is overloaded to provide the special meaning to the user-defined data type.
• Operator overloading is used to overload or redefines most of the operators
available in C++.
• It is used to perform the operation on the user-defined data type.
• For example, C++ provides the ability to add the variables of the user-defined
data type that is applied to the built-in data types.
• The advantage of Operators overloading is to perform different operations on
the same operand.

59. Operator that cannot be overloaded are as follows:
• Scope operator (::)
• Sizeof
• member selector(.)
• member pointer selector(*)
• ternary operator(?:)

60. Syntax of Operator Overloading
return_type class_name : : operator op(argument_list)
{
// body of the function.
}
• Where the return type is the type of value returned by the function.
• class_name is the name of the class.
• operator op is an operator function where op is the operator being
overloaded, and the operator is the keyword.

61. Rules for Operator Overloading
• Existing operators can only be overloaded, but the new operators cannot be
overloaded.
• The overloaded operator contains atleast one operand of the user-defined data
type.
• We cannot use friend function to overload certain operators. However, the
member function can be used to overload those operators.
• When unary operators are overloaded through a member function take no
explicit arguments, but, if they are overloaded by a friend function, takes one
argument.
• When binary operators are overloaded through a member function takes one
explicit argument, and if they are overloaded through a friend function takes
two explicit arguments.

62. Overloading Unary Operator
• Let us consider overloading (-) unary operator. In the unary operator
function, no arguments should be passed. It works only with one class
object. It is the overloading of an operator operating on a single operand.