Java Constructors
What is a Constructor?
A constructor in Java is similar to a method that is invoked when an object of
the class is created.
Unlike Java methods, a constructor has the same name as that of the class
and does not have any return type. For example,
class Test {
Test() {
// constructor body
Here, Test() is a constructor. It has the same name as that of the class and
doesn't have a return type.
Example 1: Java Constructor
class Main {
private String name;
// constructor
Main() {
System.out.println("Constructor Called:");
name = "Programiz";
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
// constructor is invoked while
// creating an object of the Main class
Main obj = new Main();
System.out.println("The name is " + obj.name);
}
}
Run Code
Output:
Constructor Called:
The name is Programiz
In the above example, we have created a constructor named Main() . Inside
the constructor, we are initializing the value of the name variable.
Notice the statement of creating an object of the Main class.
Main obj = new Main();
Here, when the object is created, the Main() constructor is called. And, the
value of the name variable is initialized.
Types of Constructor
In Java, constructors can be divided into 3 types:
1. No-Arg Constructor
2. Parameterized Constructor
3. Default Constructor
1. Java No-Arg Constructors
Similar to methods, a Java constructor may or may not have any parameters
(arguments).
If a constructor does not accept any parameters, it is known as a no-argument
constructor. For example,
private Constructor() {
// body of the constructor
}
Example 2: Java private no-arg constructor
class Main {
int i;
// constructor with no parameter
private Main() {
i = 5;
System.out.println("Constructor is called");
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
// calling the constructor without any parameter
Main obj = new Main();
System.out.println("Value of i: " + obj.i);
}
}
Run Code
Output:
Constructor is called
Value of i: 5
In the above example, we have created a constructor Main() . Here, the
constructor does not accept any parameters. Hence, it is known as a no-arg
constructor.
Notice that we have declared the constructor as private.
Once a constructor is declared private , it cannot be accessed from outside
the class. So, creating objects from outside the class is prohibited using the
private constructor.
Here, we are creating the object inside the same class. Hence, the program is
able to access the constructor. To learn more, visit Java Implement Private
Constructor.
However, if we want to create objects outside the class, then we need to
declare the constructor as public .
Example 3: Java public no-arg constructors
class Company {
String name;
// public constructor
public Company() {
name = "Programiz";
}
}
class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// object is created in another class
Company obj = new Company();
System.out.println("Company name = " + obj.name);
}
}
Run Code
Output:
Company name = Programiz
Recommended Reading: Java Access Modifier
2. Java Parameterized Constructor
A Java constructor can also accept one or more parameters. Such
constructors are known as parameterized constructors (constructor with
parameters).
Example 4: Parameterized constructor
class Main {
String languages;
// constructor accepting single value
Main(String lang) {
languages = lang;
System.out.println(languages + " Programming Language");
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
// call constructor by passing a single value
Main obj1 = new Main("Java");
Main obj2 = new Main("Python");
Main obj3 = new Main("C");
}
}
Run Code
Output:
Java Programming Language
Python Programming Language
C Programming Language
In the above example, we have created a constructor named Main() . Here,
the constructor takes a single parameter. Notice the expression,
Main obj1 = new Main("Java");
Here, we are passing the single value to the constructor. Based on the
argument passed, the language variable is initialized inside the constructor.
3. Java Default Constructor
If we do not create any constructor, the Java compiler automatically create a
no-arg constructor during the execution of the program. This constructor is
called default constructor.
Example 5: Default Constructor
class Main {
int a;
boolean b;
public static void main(String[] args) {
// A default constructor is called
Main obj = new Main();
System.out.println("Default Value:");
System.out.println("a = " + obj.a);
System.out.println("b = " + obj.b);
}
}
Run Code
Output:
Default Value:
a = 0
b = false
Here, we haven't created any constructors. Hence, the Java compiler
automatically creates the default constructor.
The default constructor initializes any uninitialized instance variables with default values.
Type Default Value
boolean false
byte 0
short 0
int 0
long 0L
char \u0000
float 0.0f
double 0.0d
object Reference null
In the above program, the variables a and b are initialized with default
value 0 and false respectively.
The above program is equivalent to:
class Main {
int a;
boolean b;
Main() {
a = 0;
b = false;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
// call the constructor
Main obj = new Main();
System.out.println("Default Value:");
System.out.println("a = " + obj.a);
System.out.println("b = " + obj.b);
}
}
Run Code
The output of the program is the same as Example 5.
Important Notes on Java Constructors
Constructors are invoked implicitly when you instantiate objects.
The two rules for creating a constructor are:
The name of the constructor should be the same as the class.
A Java constructor must not have a return type.
If a class doesn't have a constructor, the Java compiler automatically
creates a default constructor during run-time. The default constructor
initializes instance variables with default values. For example, the int variable
will be initialized to 0
Constructor types:
No-Arg Constructor - a constructor that does not accept any arguments
Parameterized constructor - a constructor that accepts arguments
Default Constructor - a constructor that is automatically created by the Java
compiler if it is not explicitly defined.
A constructor cannot be abstract or static or final .
A constructor can be overloaded but can not be overridden.
Constructors Overloading in Java
Similar to Java method overloading, we can also create two or more
constructors with different parameters. This is called constructors overloading.
Example 6: Java Constructor Overloading
class Main {
String language;
// constructor with no parameter
Main() {
this.language = "Java";
}
// constructor with a single parameter
Main(String language) {
this.language = language;
}
public void getName() {
System.out.println("Programming Langauage: " + this.language);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
// call constructor with no parameter
Main obj1 = new Main();
// call constructor with a single parameter
Main obj2 = new Main("Python");
obj1.getName();
obj2.getName();
}
}
Run Code
Output:
Programming Language: Java
Programming Language: Python
In the above example, we have two constructors: Main() and Main(String
language) . Here, both the constructor initialize the value of the variable
language with different values.
Based on the parameter passed during object creation, different constructors
are called and different values are assigned.
