Regarding Reference variable

kuttiam

Hi all, I have a reference variable in my class. I need to initialize it in the constructor. But, the compiler is giving an error. Can any one help me out from this problem?

CPallini

Reference member variables must be initialized in the constructor's initialization list, for instance

class A
{
int & iRefNum;

public:
A(int & i): iRefNum(i)
{
// whatever
}
};

:)

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Jijo Raj

You've to initialize it in constructor initializer list. For e.g.

MyClass::MyClass( CString& myString )
: m_StringReference( myString )
{
// Assume m_StringReference is a reference declared in class.
}

regards, Jijo.

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Nibu babu thomas

kuttiam wrote:

I need to initialize it in the constructor. But, the compiler is giving an error.

You should initialize a reference variable in the constructor initialization list e.g.

class MyClass
{
public:
MyClass( int& RefVal ) : m_RefVal( RefVal ) // Ok
{
m_RefVal = RefVal;// Error, cannot do this here
}

private:
int& m_RefVal;
};

Since a reference variable is much like a constant var it must be initialized like a const var. i.e. initialize where it's declared and in classes we cannot initialize where it's declared hence initialization list is provided.

Nibu thomas Microsoft MVP for VC++ Code must be written to be read, not by the compiler, but by another human being. Programming Blog: http://nibuthomas.wordpress.com

modified on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 5:10 AM