Introduction to C++ Inheritance

CS202 3- ‹#›

Constructors in Hierarchies

nA base class constructor is always invoked before a derived class constructor in an inheritance hierarchy.

nThis means that a derived class' constructor can assume that the base class members have been initialized by the time it is executed.

nThe body of a derived class constructor is executed last after the base class and all indirect base class constructors within the hierarchy have executed.

nBut, when we have a derived class, we are not explicitly using the base class' constructor. Instead, the base class’ constructor is implicitly invoked by the derived class constructor that initializes the base class members.