Constructor Chaining In Java with Examples - GeeksforGeeks

16 Aug, 2021
Prerequisite – Constructors in Java Constructor chaining is the process of calling one constructor from another constructor with respect to current object. Constructor chaining can be done in two ways:  
Within same class: It can be done using this() keyword for constructors in same class
From base class: by using super() keyword to call constructor from the base class.
Constructor chaining occurs through inheritance. A sub class constructor’s task is to call super class’s constructor first. This ensures that creation of sub class’s object starts with the initialization of the data members of the super class. There could be any numbers of classes in inheritance chain. Every constructor calls up the chain till class at the top is reached.Why do we need constructor chaining ? This process is used when we want to perform multiple tasks in a single constructor rather than creating a code for each task in a single constructor we create a separate constructor for each task and make their chain which makes the program more readable.  
Constructor Chaining within same class using this() keyword :
 
 
Java
// Java program to illustrate Constructor Chaining// within same class Using this() keywordclass Temp{    // default constructor 1    // default constructor will call another constructor    // using this keyword from same class    Temp()    {        // calls constructor 2        this(5);        System.out.println("The Default constructor");    }     // parameterized constructor 2    Temp(int x)    {        // calls constructor 3        this(5, 15);        System.out.println(x);    }     // parameterized constructor 3    Temp(int x, int y)    {        System.out.println(x * y);    }     public static void main(String args[])    {        // invokes default constructor first        new Temp();    }}
Output:  
75
5
The Default constructor
Rules of constructor chaining : 
The this() expression should always be the first line of the constructor.There should be at-least be one constructor without the this() keyword (constructor 3 in above example).Constructor chaining can be achieved in any order. 
The this() expression should always be the first line of the constructor.
There should be at-least be one constructor without the this() keyword (constructor 3 in above example).
Constructor chaining can be achieved in any order. 
What happens if we change the order of constructors?Nothing, Constructor chaining can be achieved in any order
Java
// Java program to illustrate Constructor Chaining// within same class Using this() keyword// and changing order of constructorsclass Temp{    // default constructor 1    Temp()    {        System.out.println("default");    }     // parameterized constructor 2    Temp(int x)    {        // invokes default constructor        this();        System.out.println(x);    }     // parameterized constructor 3    Temp(int x, int y)    {        // invokes parameterized constructor 2        this(5);        System.out.println(x * y);    }     public static void main(String args[])    {        // invokes parameterized constructor 3        new Temp(8, 10);    }}
Output: 
default
5
80
NOTE: In example 1, default constructor is invoked at the end, but in example 2 default constructor is invoked at first. Hence, order in constructor chaining is not important.  
Constructor Chaining to other class using super() keyword :
Java
// Java program to illustrate Constructor Chaining to// other class using super() keywordclass Base{    String name;     // constructor 1    Base()    {        this("");        System.out.println("No-argument constructor of" +                                           " base class");    }     // constructor 2    Base(String name)    {        this.name = name;        System.out.println("Calling parameterized constructor"                                              + " of base");    }} class Derived extends Base{    // constructor 3    Derived()    {        System.out.println("No-argument constructor " +                           "of derived");    }     // parameterized constructor 4    Derived(String name)    {        // invokes base class constructor 2        super(name);        System.out.println("Calling parameterized " +                           "constructor of derived");    }     public static void main(String args[])    {        // calls parameterized constructor 4        Derived obj = new Derived("test");         // Calls No-argument constructor        // Derived obj = new Derived();    }}
Output: 
Calling parameterized constructor of base
Calling parameterized constructor of derived
Note : Similar to constructor chaining in same class, super() should be the first line of the constructor as super class’s constructor are invoked before the sub class’s constructor.Alternative method : using Init block : When we want certain common resources to be executed with every constructor we can put the code in the init block. Init block is always executed before any constructor, whenever a constructor is used for creating a new object.Example 1:
Java
class Temp{    // block to be executed before any constructor.    {        System.out.println("init block");    }     // no-arg constructor    Temp()    {        System.out.println("default");    }     // constructor with one argument.    Temp(int x)    {        System.out.println(x);    }     public static void main(String[] args)    {        // Object creation by calling no-argument        // constructor.        new Temp();         // Object creation by calling parameterized        // constructor with one parameter.        new Temp(10);    }}
Output:  
init block
default
init block
10
NOTE: If there are more than one blocks, they are executed in the order in which they are defined within the same class. See the ex. Example : 
Java
class Temp{    // block to be executed first    {        System.out.println("init");    }    Temp()    {        System.out.println("default");    }    Temp(int x)    {        System.out.println(x);    }     // block to be executed after the first block    // which has been defined above.    {        System.out.println("second");    }    public static void main(String args[])    {        new Temp();        new Temp(10);    }}
Output :  
init
second
default
init
second
10
This article is contributed by Apoorva singh. If you like GeeksforGeeks and would like to contribute, you can also write an article using write.geeksforgeeks.org or mail your article to review-team@geeksforgeeks.org. See your article appearing on the GeeksforGeeks main page and help other Geeks.Please write comments if you find anything incorrect, or you want to share more information about the topic discussed above.
vkbvipul
Vikramaditya Kukreja
nidhi_biet
anikakapoor
kalrap615
Java
School Programming
Java
Writing code in comment?
Please use ide.geeksforgeeks.org,
generate link and share the link here.
Split() String method in Java with examples
Stream In Java
Reverse a string in Java
Arrays.sort() in Java with examples
How to iterate any Map in Java
Python Dictionary
Arrays in C/C++
Inheritance in C++
Reverse a string in Java
C++ Classes and Objects