Chapter 14: Problem 8

How can the compiler determine if a constructor is a copy constructor?

Short Answer

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Answer: A copy constructor is a special constructor in a class that is used to create a new object as a copy of an existing object, initializing the new object's data members with the values of the existing object. It has one formal parameter that is a reference to an object of the same class. The compiler determines if a constructor is a copy constructor by looking for the following features: it is a member function of its class, its name is the same as the class, and it takes only one argument, which is a reference to an object of its own class. The signature for a copy constructor typically looks like this: ```cpp ClassName( const ClassName& other); ```

Step by step solution

Definition of a Copy Constructor

A copy constructor is a special constructor in a class that is used to create a new object as a copy of an existing object, initializing the new object's data members with the values of the existing object. The copy constructor has one formal parameter that is a reference to an object of the same class.

Features of a Copy Constructor

There are several features of a copy constructor that help the compiler determine if it is a copy constructor: 1. It is a member function of its class. 2. The copy constructor's name is the same as the class. 3. It takes only one argument, which is a reference to an object of its own class.

The Compiler Determines a Copy Constructor

The compiler looks for these features in a constructor to determine if it is a copy constructor or not. If a constructor matches the criteria mentioned above, the compiler identifies it as a copy constructor, otherwise, it's just a regular constructor. The signature for a copy constructor is usually like this: ```cpp ClassName( const ClassName& other); ``` Where `ClassName` is the name of the class, and `other` is a reference to an object of the same class.

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How can the compiler determine if a constructor is a copy constructor?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Definition of a Copy Constructor

Features of a Copy Constructor

The Compiler Determines a Copy Constructor

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