Initializing in constructors, best practice?

Question

I\'ve been programming in C++ a while and I\'ve used both methods:

class Stuff {
public:
     Stuff( int nr ) : n( nr ) { }
private:
     int n;
}


        

Answer 1

I want to add that you don't need to declare the initializer list on the Header (.h). It can be done at the implementation of the constructor (which is very common).

So then:

//Stuff.h
class Stuff {
public:
     Stuff( int nr );
private:
     int n;
}

//Stuff.cpp
Stuff::Stuff(int nr)
: n(nr)
{
    //initalize complex members
}

is legal and imo concentrates the initialization of fields where it matters. Sometimes we need to initialize complex members in the body, so you have your initializer list and the complex initialization all in the .cpp file.